Langdon and Autodesk Top Fuel Focusing on Carolina Nationals Title

Charlotte, NC – Shawn Langdon and the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel team will have a new look for the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals, but they will bring the same level of competitiveness to the second Countdown race. This weekend Langdon’s 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster will be representing Autodesk, a long-time collaborator on Kalitta Motorsports fabrication, during the race. The team will be looking to move up in the points at a track Langdon has one Top Fuel win as well as a Funny Car win to his credit.

“I feel really comfortable racing in Charlotte,” said Langdon. “We have won here in Top Fuel and Funny Car. We ran the Bounty Hunter tribute car at Indy and in Reading and I am looking forward to racing this Autodesk race car this weekend. They support us on the fabrication side and we wouldn’t be able to win races without their support.”

In 2012 Langdon took the Top Fuel title from the No. 1 qualifier position. Two years ago Langdon was racing a Toyota Camry and won his first Funny Car title during the spring four-wide national event.

So far this season Langdon has a runner-up finish at the season opening Gatornationals and three additional semifinal finishes. The Autodesk team has opened race day from the top half of the field nine times in the first fourteen races. This weekend they will be looking to maximize the three qualifying sessions to begin race day in the best possible position.

“We just need to get a good run Friday night and that will set us up for two more good runs on Saturday,” said Langdon. “When we get three really good shots at the track, we have a lot of information for race day.”

2019 DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals Highlights (event not contested in 2020): In Funny Car; Qual. No. 10; Lost to Tim Wilkerson

Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA Reading Nationals):  Qual. No. 11; Beat Mike Salinas; Lost to Billy Torrence

Career Stats: 281 events, 278 starts, 310 round wins, 17 wins, 35 finals, 19 No. 1 qualifiers; in Top Fuel: 233 events, 230 starts, 15 wins, 32 finals, 271 round wins, 19 No. 1 qualifiers

2021 Season:
Gatornationals: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 6; Beat Doug Foley, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown; Lost to Josh Hart
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 6; Beat Troy Buff and Rob Passey; Lost to Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence
Atlanta: Qual. No. 11; Beat Leah Pruett, Mike Salinas; Lost to Steve Torrence
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown and Krista Baldwin
Houston: Qual. No. 7; Beat Josh Hart, Justin Ashley; Lost to Doug Kalitta
Epping: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Doug Kalitta
Norwalk: Qual. No. 16; Lost to Steve Torrence
Denver: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Clay Millican
Sonoma: Qual. No. 9; Beat Clay Millican; Lost to Antron Brown
Pomona1: Qual. No. 5; Beat Jim Maroney; Lost to Antron Brown
Topeka: Qual. No. 7; Beat Antron Brown, Billy Torrence; Lost to Clay Millican
Brainerd: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Antron Brown
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 16; Lost to Brittany Force
Reading: Qual. No. 11; Beat Mike Salinas; Lost to Billy Torrence