Shawn Langdon and DHL Ready for Round Two at Indy This Weekend
Indianapolis – Getting back into the swing of things was easy for Shawn Langdon, driver of the DHL Top Fuel dragster, during the relaunch 
of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. He was at a hometown race track for the Danville, Indiana resident and he was continuing a streak of drag racing that previously included primarily bracket races but gave him valuable seat time none the less. By his account heading into last weekend’s NHRA national event he had raced 24 days and made 132 passes in his sportsman dragster. After his weekend in Top Fuel he can add a couple days of racing and two more passes.
As the No. 8 qualifier Langdon outran No. 9 qualifier Justin Ashley in the first round and was ousted by No. 1 qualifier Steve Torrence in the quarterfinals. Langdon’s opening round 3.789 second run was a huge performance jump from his qualifying time and gave the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion momentum headed to the quarterfinals. In the second round Langdon fell off a little in performance but was overall pleased with his team’s effort.
“We got back in the groove of things pretty well,” said Langdon. “We would have liked to have been qualified a little higher but we were top half and there were quite a few good race cars here. The conditions were pretty tough on Saturday and we stepped it up pretty good on Sunday.”
The new format of one day of qualifying with two sessions and then right into race day at 9 a.m. local time was an adjustment that Langdon rolled with successfully.
“I am used to making runs early in the morning with my bracket car,” said Langdon. “There are times we could be making runs at 8 a.m. so hitting the tree at 9 a.m. wasn’t too bad. It just means you need to get a good night’s sleep which isn’t a problem. The biggest thing is those two qualifying runs. You can’t afford to get behind the eight ball on that first run. You have to be aggressive but also smart. That is why I love racing with (team owner and crew chief) Connie Kalitta. He can do it all and I always feel very comfortable.”
Last weekend there were eighteen Top Fuel dragsters vying for sixteen spots in the field and this weekend could be equally as tough. With the removal of the Countdown playoff format Langdon knows that every race and every round win moves him closer to the point leader and teammate Doug Kalitta. Langdon is currently seventh in the Mello Yello Top Fuel point standings but the DHL Top Fuel dragster is less than three rounds out of second place.
“Doug has a pretty good lead on everyone but I think we can move up in the points this weekend for sure,” said Langdon. “There are a couple people that are within one round and then if the ladder falls right we could move up three or four spots. The key will be to get a low qualifying spot and then run quick on Sunday.”
Last Event Recap (2020 NHRA Indy1 Nationals): Qual. No. 8; Beat Justin Ashley; Lost to Steve Torrence
Quotable: Shawn Langdon on first race back last weekend: “I have been racing a lot of bracket races so I was in a racing groove but nothing compares to this DHL Top Fuel dragster. We had a good start or restart I guess. I felt really good in the dragster and we made some good runs in qualifying. I think we will be even better when we come back this weekend.”
Career Stats: 259 events, 256 starts, 289 round wins, 16 wins, 33 finals, 18 No. 1 qualifiers; in Top Fuel 211 events, 208 starts, 14 wins, 30 finals, 250 round wins, 18 No. 1 qualifiers
2020 Season:
Winternationals: Qual. No. 4; Lost to Justin Ashley
Arizona Nationals: Qual. No. 7; Beat Clay Millican; Lost to Steve Torrence
Indy1 NHRA Nationals: Qual. No. 8; Beat Justin Ashley; Lost to Steve Torrence
