Langdon Starts Countdown with Bounty Hunter Look and Championship Aspirations

Reading, PA – For the second race in a row Shawn Langdon will be racing one of the most legendary looking and feared Top Fuel dragster in NHRA history. Last weekend the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel team surprised team owner and crew chief Connie Kalitta by revealing the gold and white Bounty Hunter livery on Langdon’s Top Fuel race car for the weekend. It was an immediate crowd favorite with t-shirts emblazoned with the retro look flying off the Fatheadz souvenir trailer every day. The response was so positive the team decided to bring the race car back to start the 2021 Countdown at Maple Grove Raceway.

“This is one of the best-looking race cars I have ever driven, and we want to continue to honor Connie,” said Langdon. “We didn’t get the results we wanted in Indy, and I am determined to go some rounds in Reading. We only got one qualifying run on Friday night, and we missed on that tune up so I had to pedal it to get us in the show. I am looking forward to getting three qualifying runs at Maple Grove and seeing what we can do on race day.

Langdon and the DHL Kalitta Air team enter the Countdown as the No. 5 seed and sit just 50 points out of first place now that the points have been reset. With 20 points per round on the table four win lights on Sunday could easily cut into the gap. Also, the addition of a seventh Countdown race gives Langdon and the rest of the Top Fuel class more of an opportunity to make up ground on the drivers in front of them.

“I feel like you have a great shot of winning the championship from where we are seeded,” said Langdon. “Really you can win a championship from anywhere in the Countdown if you get off to a hot start. You could see some great performance numbers this weekend and I feel good about our chances to put up some low ETs. Qualifying bonus points are a big deal in the Countdown and when you get down to the last couple of races in the season they can really add up.”

On the way to his first Top Fuel championship Langdon picked up his lone win at Maple Grove Raceway. The last time he was at the track he was racing his Toyota Camry Funny Car so the return to his Top Fuel roots has Langdon eager to get back on a track where he has had some success.

“They always have a great crowd in Reading and that track can be really quick,” said Langdon. “We are jumping right into the Countdown with three races in a row, so drivers are going to have to be on their game. I am looking forward being in the seat every weekend because you really can get into a good groove.”

2019 NHRA Reading Nationals Highlights (event not contested in 2020): In Funny Car; Qual. No. 8; Lost to Matt Hagan

Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA U.S. Nationals):  Qual. No. 16; Lost to Brittany Force

Career Stats: 280 events, 277 starts, 309 round wins, 17 wins, 35 finals, 19 No. 1 qualifiers in Top Fuel: 232 events, 229 starts, 15 wins, 32 finals, 270 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