SHAWN LANGDON WINS INAUGURAL NHRA POTOMAC NATIONALS FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE VICTORY
BUDDS CREEK, MD — Shawn Langdon and the Kalitta Air Careers Top Fuel team capped a dominant weekend at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway with a thrilling victory Sunday, claiming his third consecutive win and fourth of the 2026 season.
Langdon was the class of the field all weekend, setting the Top Fuel track record in qualifying with a 3.744-second run at 334.90 mph in the final session Saturday to claim his third No. 1 qualifier of the season, the 25th of his career, and the fourth straight Top Fuel pole for Kalitta Motorsports. After a first-round bye, Langdon defeated Justin Ashley and Billy Torrence to set up an all-Kalitta Motorsports final against teammate Doug Kalitta.
The final round was one for the books. Both cars launched nearly simultaneously, and Langdon’s 3.762-second run at 334.90 mph edged Kalitta’s 3.766 at 334.24 mph by just two ten-thousandths of a second — approximately one inch at the finish line.
“That was a little too close for comfort, but when you race Doug Kalitta and Alan Johnson, you better be on your A game,” said Langdon. “Our Kalitta Air Careers team has been so good lately. They’ve given me a better race car than I deserve, but for all our partners — everybody at Kalitta Air, DHL, Mac Tools, Revchem and SealMaster — three in a row is bad ass. Give it the hat trick!”
Langdon also took a moment to acknowledge team owner Connie Kalitta, who has been away from the track recently. “We’re thinking about him. Can’t wait for him to come back. I never met a guy that loves drag racing more than me until I met Connie Kalitta. That guy is the epitome of drag racing.”
When asked why the team is clicking so well, Langdon credited the people. “Bringing over Alan Johnson and Brian Husen a couple of years ago, and Mac Savage on Doug’s car — it’s getting all the right guys together. Alan and Brian won all those championships for a reason, and so for all of us, we just keep our mouths shut, keep our ears open, listen and learn. Winning cures about everything — this year’s been unbelievable.”
Langdon now leads the Top Fuel points standings, holding a 76-point advantage over teammate Doug Kalitta heading into next weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
