Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air Careers Top Fuel Dragster
2025 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ida Zetterstrom and Scott Farley, Brittany Force and Josh Hart; defeated Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart and Antron Brown.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 372 events, 23 wins, 29 runners-up, 420 round wins, 23 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 2
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“Winning the 1,000th Top Fuel race at Charlotte last year was very, very cool. It was an honor to win that race, and it was a great accomplishment in a sport with so much history. Don Garlits and Connie Kalitta both signed the final round time slip – that one is front and center in the trophy case.
“It was definitely humbling to be recognized as one of NHRA’s top-75 drivers in Pomona – I appreciate it. The guys who won those early Top Fuel races were my heroes growing up – I used to get their autographs so being on a list with them now is a really big honor.”
“Our Kalitta Air Careers team is making great runs this year just like it did in the last couple of seasons. When you have confidence your car is going to go down the track, it makes you want to drive better. I give all I have on every run no matter what, but part of making good runs is building confidence in myself as a driver. I’m not worried about how the car will run; I know it’s going down the track. When I’m confident in the car, I can focus 100 percent on driving.
“They call zMAX Dragway the ‘Bellagio of Drag Strips’ for a reason. It’s a racetrack with a beautiful atmosphere and great Motorsports fans. It’s a place where we really enjoy putting on a great show for the fans. We’re ready to get in there and get it done this weekend.”
Langdon Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Shawn Langdon’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
The post Shawn Langdon Set for 4-Wide Nationals Title Defense first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
2025 NHRA 4-Wide Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 2; defeated Ida Zetterstrom and Scott Farley, Brittany Force and Josh Hart; defeated Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart and Antron Brown.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 372 events, 23 wins, 29 runners-up, 420 round wins, 23 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 2
Pre-Race Notes:
- Shawn Langdon is the defending champion of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals. One year ago at this event, Langdon captured the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history. He received a replica of the original trophy from the first Top Fuel race presented by NHRA legend Don Garlits, who won that inaugural race.
- Langdon enters the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in second place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. His teammate, Doug Kalitta, is the points leader making Team Kalitta one-two in points following the season’s third race.
- Langdon has a win and a semifinal showing in the last two races. He qualified No. 1 and won his third-straight NHRA Arizona Nationals near Phoenix earlier this month. Two weeks ago, he advanced to the semifinals in Pomona, Calif.
- Langdon is stellar in qualifying this season. In the first three races, he qualified second, first and third.
- When Langdon advanced to the second round two weeks ago in California, he earned a spot in this week’s Mission Foods Challenge. During Saturday’s qualifying sessions, the drivers who reached the quarterfinals at the last race will re-run the 4-Wide semifinals and final earning additional purse and championship bonus points. Due to the 4-Wide format, eight drivers will compete in the event this week instead of four.
- Prior to Saturday’s third qualifying session in Pomona, Langdon was recognized as one of NHRA’s top-75 drivers. In recognition of NHRA’s 75th anniversary season in 2026, NHRA added 25 drivers to its existing list of the top-50 drivers, and Langdon was one of the additional 25 drivers.
- Langdon has three wins in five final-round appearances and three No.1 qualifiers at zMAX Dragway. His win in the 2012 fall race was the first Top Fuel victory of his career.
- Langdon is the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel Champion.
Pre-Race Quotes:
“Winning the 1,000th Top Fuel race at Charlotte last year was very, very cool. It was an honor to win that race, and it was a great accomplishment in a sport with so much history. Don Garlits and Connie Kalitta both signed the final round time slip – that one is front and center in the trophy case.
“It was definitely humbling to be recognized as one of NHRA’s top-75 drivers in Pomona – I appreciate it. The guys who won those early Top Fuel races were my heroes growing up – I used to get their autographs so being on a list with them now is a really big honor.”
“Our Kalitta Air Careers team is making great runs this year just like it did in the last couple of seasons. When you have confidence your car is going to go down the track, it makes you want to drive better. I give all I have on every run no matter what, but part of making good runs is building confidence in myself as a driver. I’m not worried about how the car will run; I know it’s going down the track. When I’m confident in the car, I can focus 100 percent on driving.
“They call zMAX Dragway the ‘Bellagio of Drag Strips’ for a reason. It’s a racetrack with a beautiful atmosphere and great Motorsports fans. It’s a place where we really enjoy putting on a great show for the fans. We’re ready to get in there and get it done this weekend.”
Langdon Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports
For Shawn Langdon’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 7-8:30 Friday, April 24 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 11-Noon Sunday, April 26 on FS1
- Finals: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, April 26 on FS1
The post Shawn Langdon Set for 4-Wide Nationals Title Defense first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
Continue reading...
