YPSILANTI, Mich. (Sept. 16, 2025) – Like everyone else entering this weekend’s race outside Charlotte, Shawn Langdon wants to win, but the 2013 Top Fuel champion is the only Top Fuel driver that could need a broom on Sunday. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs continue with the second of six playoff races Sept. 19-21 at the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C.
Langdon won the spring four-wide race at zMAX Dragway; it was the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history, and should he take the win this weekend and earn his fourth win at the suburban Charlotte track, he would sweep the Charlotte races for the first time in his career.
“I’ve always enjoyed going to Charlotte, dating back to 2012 – that’s where I got my first Top Fuel victory so I always have good memories there,” Langdon said. “I was able to get the win earlier this year for the 1,000th Top Fuel event. It’ll be a little bit unique this year with the Four-Wides in the countdown, but I think it’s good. I think trying something different is good for the sport, not just going status quo every year. I’m very interested and very excited to run that four-wide event for the Countdown.”
Langdon was the No. 5 qualifier in the first playoff race last weekend in Reading, Pa. He advanced to the second round in what became a disappointing weekend for the California native dropping him from second to third in points, yet Langdon enters the second Countdown race just 18 points behind second-place Tony Stewart and 33 points behind his teammate, points leader Doug Kalitta. He leads fourth-place Justin Ashley by 17 points and fifth-place Clay Millican by 34 points with five races remaining in the season.
“It’s really anybody’s game at this point,” Langdon said. “Right now, with the cars that are out there, it’s competitive all the way through. There’s really no ‘qualify in the first couple spots and kinda get an easy round.’ No matter where you qualify, it’s gonna be a tough draw, and you’re gonna have to do your job. If you do your job on Sunday, hopefully everything falls your way.”
Langdon is a three-time NHRA national champion having won in Super Comp and Junior Dragster in addition to his 2013 NHRA Top Fuel title. He knows the post-season drill and that despite the busiest time of the year, including a little down time can be pivotal in staying sharp.
“The countdown is a pretty busy time,” Langdon explained. “We actually have partner appearances for DHL and Fifth Third Bank. For me, when I’m at home, I’m just working on the race cars. That’s kind of my relaxing R&R away from the racetrack. I always feel like the quiet time in the Countdown is when you get in the race car. That’s where you can decompress a little bit and gather your thoughts from everything with the attention from the media, fans, sponsors and everything like that. In the Countdown, I just can’t wait to get in the race car.”
Race Information:
NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals zMAX Dragway; Concord, N.C.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 6; defeated Josh Hart, lost to Doug Kalitta.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 365 events, 22 wins, 28 runner-up, 406 round wins, 21 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (Wins in Italics):
The post Shawn Langdon Seeks Carolina Season Sweep first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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Langdon won the spring four-wide race at zMAX Dragway; it was the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history, and should he take the win this weekend and earn his fourth win at the suburban Charlotte track, he would sweep the Charlotte races for the first time in his career.
“I’ve always enjoyed going to Charlotte, dating back to 2012 – that’s where I got my first Top Fuel victory so I always have good memories there,” Langdon said. “I was able to get the win earlier this year for the 1,000th Top Fuel event. It’ll be a little bit unique this year with the Four-Wides in the countdown, but I think it’s good. I think trying something different is good for the sport, not just going status quo every year. I’m very interested and very excited to run that four-wide event for the Countdown.”
Langdon was the No. 5 qualifier in the first playoff race last weekend in Reading, Pa. He advanced to the second round in what became a disappointing weekend for the California native dropping him from second to third in points, yet Langdon enters the second Countdown race just 18 points behind second-place Tony Stewart and 33 points behind his teammate, points leader Doug Kalitta. He leads fourth-place Justin Ashley by 17 points and fifth-place Clay Millican by 34 points with five races remaining in the season.
“It’s really anybody’s game at this point,” Langdon said. “Right now, with the cars that are out there, it’s competitive all the way through. There’s really no ‘qualify in the first couple spots and kinda get an easy round.’ No matter where you qualify, it’s gonna be a tough draw, and you’re gonna have to do your job. If you do your job on Sunday, hopefully everything falls your way.”
Langdon is a three-time NHRA national champion having won in Super Comp and Junior Dragster in addition to his 2013 NHRA Top Fuel title. He knows the post-season drill and that despite the busiest time of the year, including a little down time can be pivotal in staying sharp.
“The countdown is a pretty busy time,” Langdon explained. “We actually have partner appearances for DHL and Fifth Third Bank. For me, when I’m at home, I’m just working on the race cars. That’s kind of my relaxing R&R away from the racetrack. I always feel like the quiet time in the Countdown is when you get in the race car. That’s where you can decompress a little bit and gather your thoughts from everything with the attention from the media, fans, sponsors and everything like that. In the Countdown, I just can’t wait to get in the race car.”
Race Information:
NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals zMAX Dragway; Concord, N.C.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show: 10 a.m.-Noon Sunday, Sept. 21 on FS1
- Finals: Noon-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 on FS1
2024 NHRA Carolina Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 6; defeated Josh Hart, lost to Doug Kalitta.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 365 events, 22 wins, 28 runner-up, 406 round wins, 21 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (Wins in Italics):
- Gainesville: Qualified No. 11; defeated Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart and Jasmine Salinas; lost to Antron Brown.
- Phoenix: Qualified No. 3; defeated Scott Palmer, Justin Ashley, Brittany Force and Doug Kalitta.
- Pomona: Qualified No. 3; defeated Ida Zetterstrom and Josh Hart; lost to Tony Stewart.
- Las Vegas: Qualified No. 11: lost to Antron Brown, Mike Salinas.
- Charlotte: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ida Zetterstrom and Scott Farley, Brittany Force and Josh Hart, Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart and Antron Brown.
- Chicago: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel, lost to Steve Torrence.
- Epping: Qualified No. 6; lost to Dan Mercier.
- Bristol: Qualified No. 3; defeated Cody Krohn and Josh Hart; lost to Justin Ashley.
- Richmond: Qualified No. 5; defeated Cameron Ferre, Dan Mercier and Tony Stewart; lost to Justin Ashley.
- Norwalk: Qualified No. 5; defeated Doug Foley and Brittany Force; Lost to Justin Ashley.
- Seattle: Qualified No. 2; defeated Cameron Ferre, Tony Stewart, Bye, Brittany Force.
- Sonoma: Qualified No. 10; defeated Brittany Force, Bye; lost to Antron Brown.
- Brainerd: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown; lost to Brittany Force.
- Indianapolis: Qualified No. 6; lost to Clay Millican.
- Reading: Qualified No. 5; defeated Doug Foley; lost to Shawn Reed.
The post Shawn Langdon Seeks Carolina Season Sweep first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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