TOP FUEL WINNER: Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air Careers Dragster​


Finals Broadcast Replay (eastern time): 9-11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 on FS1

Qualifying: Langdon made his best run of the weekend in the first qualifying attempt Friday evening when the Kalitta Air Careers team made a 3.679-second pass at 339.87 mph. With warmer conditions Saturday afternoon, Langdon’s Friday evening run held up through the remaining qualifying sessions. It was Langdon’s seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 29th of his career. Langdon now has four wins from the No. 1 qualifier position this season.

Eliminations: Langdon won his fourth-consecutive race, his eighth of the season and the 30th of his career. He defeated Tony Schumacher, Leah Pruett, Justin Ashley and Will Smith on his way to his eighth winner’s circle celebration of the season. In the first round, Langdon set the Worldwide Technology Raceway speed record when he reached 341.68 mph. Langdon has three wins at Worldwide Technology Raceway; two in Top Fuel and one in Funny Car.

Unofficial Point Standings: Langdon leaves St. Louis in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He now leads his teammate, Doug Kalitta, by 116 points with three races remaining in the season.

Langdon on St. Louis:

“Each “Wally” (NHRA trophy) we get, it just continues to grow. At the beginning of the year, we had some goals in mind for our team. We’ve been so close (to winning the championship) the last couple of years. We had the equipment, we had the personnel, we had the team to compete for championships, but it just didn’t work in our favor. This year, we’ve kept focusing on the details, kept focusing on the little points. Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) kept pushing everybody to strive for perfection, and I think this team’s showing it right now. Thanks to everybody at Kalitta Air, Gerber, Mac Tools, DHL, SealMaster, PJH, Mobil 1, Hounder and all the partners that stick behind us. It’s a great time to be a part of Team Kalitta right now.

“It really is incredible – all the credit goes to my guys, my whole Kalitta Air team. From Brian, Aaron (Cave), Justin (Groat), the whole Kalitta Air group, every one of the crew guys, the hospitality guys, everybody back at the shop, everybody at Kalitta Air; it’s just a huge team effort.

“Obviously, we’re doing all this for (Team Owner) Connie Kalitta. He gives us everything we need to live our dreams, have some fun, race a racecar and go 346 miles an hour. To be able to put on performances like this is just a testament to the guys, their hard work, their perfection putting the car together, giving Brian an opportunity to put a great tune up in the car and giving me an opportunity to keep the thing straight and go as fast as I can.

“Each run just builds more confidence. The car is great right now, and it listens very well; it does what it’s told to do, but the more runs we make, the more confidence we build. We just try to make the best run that we can depending on the conditions. I feel like I’m living a dream right now, but it’s a reality and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Langdon Photo Courtesy: Kalitta Motorsports

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