Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals Preview
LANGDON LOOKS TO “DOUBLE” UP – Shawn Langdon will be looking for a rare repeat in Indianapolis. Langdon won the two 
biggest purses in drag racing on Labor Day weekend last year, winning Saturday’s Traxxas Shootout and then taking home the ‘Wally’ in Monday’s prestigious U.S. Nationals. Langdon, who enters this weekend in third place in the championship race, is the only driver to win both the U.S. Nationals and the Shootout in the same weekend. He also is the current track record holder at 3.740-seconds.
PEDREGON, WORSHAM BATTLE FOR COUNTDOWN BERTHS – Five Toyota drivers have clinched their berths for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs heading into the last race of the regular season in Indianapolis. Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon, Khalid alBalooshi and Richie Crampton are qualified in Top Fuel, while Alexis DeJoria is safely in the Funny Car playoffs.
Cruz Pedregon and Del Worsham will try to earn their way into the Funny Car Countdown this weekend. Pedregon currently sits in eighth place and barring a new world record, he needs only to qualify to clinch his spot as he currently holds a 97-point lead over 11th-place Jack Beckman. Worsham has a 68-point lead over Beckman and a 52-point lead over 10th-place Tim Wilkerson. He can clinch his berth by winning one round in Monday’s eliminations in no record is established.
SMALL SCHEDULE, BIG RESULTS FOR LUCAS– Morgan Lucas has run just three races this year, but for many he’s already achieved a year’s worth of results. The long-time Toyota Top Fuel driver is coming off a victory at Brainerd in the most recent NHRA event, which follows up a pair of semi-final showings at the Toyota Summernationals in Englishtown and the Gatornationals in March. After finishing a career-best fourth in the Top Fuel point standings last season, Lucas stepped away from the cockpit full-time to devote more time to the family business. Lucas turned the primary seat over to Richie Crampton, who won earlier this season at the Toyota Summernationals and is considered the leading contender for NHRA Rookie of the Year honors.
TOYOTA NIGHT AT THE INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS – The first Toyota NHRA Night with the Indianapolis Indians will take place on August 27. Defending U.S. Nationals champion Shawn Langdon will throw out the first pitch, while all of the Toyota NHRA drivers will be on hand for an autograph session at the park from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. In addition, Antron Brown’s Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster will be on display.
