TOP FUEL WINNER: Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air Careers Dragster
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 on FS2
Qualifying: Shawn Langdon was the No. 3 qualifier at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. During the Friday evening qualifying session, Langdon’s 3.706-second effort at 331.85 mph was good enough to claim the No. 3 position.
Eliminations: Langdon defeated Scott Palmer, Justin Ashley and Brittany Force on the way to the all-Team Kalitta final round against his teammate, Doug Kalitta. It was the first all-Kalitta final round since the Richmond, Va., race last summer which Kalitta won. Langdon was off the starting line first and never trailed. His 3.770-second pass at 325.43 mph beat Kalitta’s 3.724-second effort at 330.39 mph. Langdon’s margin of victory was .0723 seconds. It was Langdon’s 20th win, his second-straight Phoenix win and his third-straight Phoenix final round. With Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge win, it was also a double-win.
When Langdon advanced to the semifinals, he earned a spot in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge next week in Pomona, Calif. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the semifinals in Phoenix will re-run the semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points.
Unofficial Point Standings: Langdon leaves Phoenix in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He leads second-place Antron Brown by 40 points after the season’s first two races.
Langdon on Phoenix: “It was a great day for Team Kalitta– we accomplished our goal of getting both Top Fuel cars in the final, but obviously there’s some pressure because you don’t want to be the weak link. Going to the final, Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) and I knew there was only one thing to do: put a tune-up in it and hope the track will hold it. We knew we had to go low 3.70s, and I knew I had to do my job on the tree – it was the only way to beat a team like Doug and AJ (Crew Chief Alan Johnson). Obviously, regardless of the outcome, it’s a good day for Kalitta Motorsports, Kalitta Air Careers, Dayco, Revchem, SealMaster and Connie Kalitta – he had a smile on his face, and at the end of the day, that’s something we always want to see.
“We appreciate everybody coming today – the sold-out crowd speaks volumes about all the great fans here in Arizona, we thank you guys very much. I do have to give a shout out to our clutch guy Jeff (Leister). He had a health scare coming back from Gainesville, so hopefully he’s watching and has a smile on his face. This Wally’s for you, Jeff. We miss you and can’t wait for you to come back.”
Langdon Image Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post Shawn Langdon Beats Doug Kalitta in Phoenix NHRA Final first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 on FS2
Qualifying: Shawn Langdon was the No. 3 qualifier at the NHRA Arizona Nationals. During the Friday evening qualifying session, Langdon’s 3.706-second effort at 331.85 mph was good enough to claim the No. 3 position.
Eliminations: Langdon defeated Scott Palmer, Justin Ashley and Brittany Force on the way to the all-Team Kalitta final round against his teammate, Doug Kalitta. It was the first all-Kalitta final round since the Richmond, Va., race last summer which Kalitta won. Langdon was off the starting line first and never trailed. His 3.770-second pass at 325.43 mph beat Kalitta’s 3.724-second effort at 330.39 mph. Langdon’s margin of victory was .0723 seconds. It was Langdon’s 20th win, his second-straight Phoenix win and his third-straight Phoenix final round. With Saturday’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge win, it was also a double-win.
When Langdon advanced to the semifinals, he earned a spot in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge next week in Pomona, Calif. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the semifinals in Phoenix will re-run the semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points.
Unofficial Point Standings: Langdon leaves Phoenix in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He leads second-place Antron Brown by 40 points after the season’s first two races.
Langdon on Phoenix: “It was a great day for Team Kalitta– we accomplished our goal of getting both Top Fuel cars in the final, but obviously there’s some pressure because you don’t want to be the weak link. Going to the final, Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) and I knew there was only one thing to do: put a tune-up in it and hope the track will hold it. We knew we had to go low 3.70s, and I knew I had to do my job on the tree – it was the only way to beat a team like Doug and AJ (Crew Chief Alan Johnson). Obviously, regardless of the outcome, it’s a good day for Kalitta Motorsports, Kalitta Air Careers, Dayco, Revchem, SealMaster and Connie Kalitta – he had a smile on his face, and at the end of the day, that’s something we always want to see.
“We appreciate everybody coming today – the sold-out crowd speaks volumes about all the great fans here in Arizona, we thank you guys very much. I do have to give a shout out to our clutch guy Jeff (Leister). He had a health scare coming back from Gainesville, so hopefully he’s watching and has a smile on his face. This Wally’s for you, Jeff. We miss you and can’t wait for you to come back.”
Langdon Image Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
The post Shawn Langdon Beats Doug Kalitta in Phoenix NHRA Final first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
