LANGDON GIVES TOYOTA U.S. NATIONALS WIN; SWEEPS INDY

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Toyota driver Shawn Langdon stormed to the U.S. Nationals Top Fuel title at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis on Monday, completing a weekend that not only saw him win the sport’s most prestigious race, but the Traxxas Shootout and clinch the number one seed for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Langdon defeated Pat Dakin, Terry McMillen, Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence on the way to his series-high fifth victory of the season. He also defeated Torrence in the final to win the $100,000 prize in the Traxxas Shootout on Sunday.

“It was just a perfect weekend,” said Langdon. “First, the five-year extension for the team, then winning the Traxxas Shootout and today winning our most prestigious race of the year…it was just a perfect weekend.

It’s a testament of just how great this Al-Anabi Racing team really is. Now, we have just one goal remaining (the championship).”

Khalid alBalooshi made it two Al-Anabi Racing Toyotas in the semi-finals by knocking off David Grubnic and Clay Millican. By winning the two rounds, Balooshi moved up to the number five seed in the Countdown.
Morgan Lucas began a wild race day by defeating number one qualifier and fellow Toyota driver Antron Brown in the opening round on Sunday.

In Funny Car, Del Worsham entered the event needing to advance to at least the semi-finals to earn a berth in the Countdown to the Championship. The 2011 Top Fuel champion qualified third and then defeated Courtney Force in the opening round and John Force in round two to earn the final playoff spot by just four points.

None of the other Toyota Funny Car drivers were able to advance past the first round, although, Alexis DeJoria ran a blistering 4.036-second pass – third-quickest overall of the day – only to lose on a hole-shot to Ron Capps. Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon and Chad Head also lost in the opening round.
The Countdown to the Championship playoffs will begin in two weeks at the NHRA Nationals at the zMax Dragway in Charlotte, Sept. 13-15