TOYOTA NHRA: Midwest Nationals Preview

Madison, IL – Langdon Holds Rare Distinction At WWTR…Shawn Langdon is the only driver to score Countdown wins in both Nitro classes at World Wide Technology Raceway. He won at the track in Top Fuel in 2016 and in Funny Car in 2019. Overall, he and Del Worsham are the only drivers to have won playoff races at the same track in both Nitro classes. Coincidentally, Worsham was Langdon’s crew chief for the Funny Car win in 2019. He’s now the owner/crew chief with Alexis DeJoria’s DC Motorsports team.

DeJoria Closing In On First Win For DC Motorsports…With two semifinal showings in the last three races, Alexis DeJoria and her DC Motorsports team are on the verge of capturing their initial win in their first full season of Funny Car competition. Over the course of the season, DeJoria has advanced to the semis or beyond six times, including five in the last nine races. She also advanced to last year’s Midwest Nationals semifinal. DeJoria will be looking for her sixth career win and first since coming out of a two-year retirement in the shortened 2020 season.

Brown Looks For Record Sixth WWTR Win…Antron Brown will be looking for a record sixth Top Fuel win at World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend. The long-time Toyota driver won a record four consecutive races at the track in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and the 2009 event with Mike Ashley Motorsports. This weekend will mark Brown’s final appearance at WWTR with DSR as his new AB Motorsports team will debut in 2022.

Toyota Drivers in the Countdown…All five Toyota drivers qualified for this year’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs. After two races, J.R. Todd leads the way in fourth place in Funny Car – 46 points out of the top spot, while Alexis DeJoria is currently eighth, but less than 100 points of the series lead. In Top Fuel, Antron Brown is seventh with Shawn Langdon eighth and Doug Kalitta tenth.

Quotes:

Alexis DeJoria, Bandero Tequila Toyota Camry Funny Car: “Our next race is at St. Louis, we’ve had some good luck there, but we’ve also had some problems. It’s a good track and we’re excited to get back on it. We’re closing the gap and the finals will be here before you know it and, hopefully, we can get a win before the end of the season.”

Antron Brown Matco Tools/Toyota Top Fuel Dragster: “We’re looking forward to getting to St. Louis this weekend. World Wide Technology Raceway is a track that has always been really, really good to us. It’s a great facility run by a great staff. We love going there and see the Arch from the staging lanes. We’ll go in with our heads down and see what we can make happen. We’re ready to go and it’s time for a turnaround.”