Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air Careers Top Fuel Dragster
2025 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Steve Torrence.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 374 events, 24 wins, 30 runners-up, 426 round wins, 25 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 1
Pre-Race Notes:
Pre-Race Quotes:
“It (South Georgia) was a very satisfying weekend. It’s always nice when you can wake up in the morning and see your team on Yahoo Sports and the New York Times (about reaching 345 mph). It’s pretty cool to see the type of outreach this sport can generate, and to be the ones to do it is a credit to the Kalitta Air Careers team. They’ve done such a great job going back to the hard work that went into it in the off season that’s paying dividends right now. All three (Kalitta Motorsports) cars are running really well right now.
“I really feel like this team is one of the best I’ve ever driven for, top-to-bottom; it’s the amount of confidence the team gives me. These guys are good week in and week out. They have good attitudes, they work hard, and they all get along. Winning cures a lot, but it’s been a constant work in progress the last couple of years. Now, I really feel, across the board, like all three teams are doing well together and sharing information and notes. Everyone pitches in; it’s really good right now.
“The best feeling is when your teammate is your biggest competition. The best part about it is that AJ (Kalitta Crew Chief Alan Johnson) doesn’t want Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) to catch up to him, and Brian keeps working harder every week. When Doug outran us in the final in Charlotte, Brian was happy for AJ and Doug, but I could tell it lit a fire in him, and he wasn’t going to let that happen two races in a row.
“I’m just fortunate I get to hold the steering wheel and reap the benefits of that determination. I really feel like Brian and Alan feed off each other and always push each other. They’re not content with where they are. They’re always trying to do better and make their car better. When one outruns the other, the other comes back stronger so they keep elevating their game. Fortunately, Doug and I get to be the ones driving the race cars – we get to have fun with it.”
Langdon Photo Courtesy: NHRA
For Shawn Langdon’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
The post Speed Demon Shawn Langdon Takes Top Fuel Points Lead into Joliet NHRA first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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2025 Route 66 NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 3; defeated Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Steve Torrence.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 374 events, 24 wins, 30 runners-up, 426 round wins, 25 No. 1 qualifiers.
Current Points Position: 1
Pre-Race Notes:
- Shawn Langdon enters the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in first place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. His teammate, Doug Kalitta, is second making Team Kalitta one-two in points.
- With J.R. Todd atop the Funny Car standings, Team Kalitta leads the points in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.
- The Team Kalitta dragsters have been phenomenal this season. Except for the final round in Pomona, at least one Team Kalitta driver competed in every round of Top Fuel racing in the season’s first five races. At the last race, the final round was an all-Team Kalitta affair with Langdon taking the win over Kalitta.
- Langdon is the fastest racer on the planet. Two weeks ago, at the NHRA Southern Nationals, Langdon reached 345.00 mph during qualifying to shatter the NHRA speed record. The next day, he reached 344.91 mph and now owns the two fastest speeds in the history of the sport.
- With Langdon’s second win of the season two weeks ago, he has two wins, a runner-up and a semifinal showing along with two No. 1 qualifiers in the season’s first five races.
- Langdon is the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel Champion; he has never won at Route 66 Raceway.
Pre-Race Quotes:
“It (South Georgia) was a very satisfying weekend. It’s always nice when you can wake up in the morning and see your team on Yahoo Sports and the New York Times (about reaching 345 mph). It’s pretty cool to see the type of outreach this sport can generate, and to be the ones to do it is a credit to the Kalitta Air Careers team. They’ve done such a great job going back to the hard work that went into it in the off season that’s paying dividends right now. All three (Kalitta Motorsports) cars are running really well right now.
“I really feel like this team is one of the best I’ve ever driven for, top-to-bottom; it’s the amount of confidence the team gives me. These guys are good week in and week out. They have good attitudes, they work hard, and they all get along. Winning cures a lot, but it’s been a constant work in progress the last couple of years. Now, I really feel, across the board, like all three teams are doing well together and sharing information and notes. Everyone pitches in; it’s really good right now.
“The best feeling is when your teammate is your biggest competition. The best part about it is that AJ (Kalitta Crew Chief Alan Johnson) doesn’t want Brian (Crew Chief Brian Husen) to catch up to him, and Brian keeps working harder every week. When Doug outran us in the final in Charlotte, Brian was happy for AJ and Doug, but I could tell it lit a fire in him, and he wasn’t going to let that happen two races in a row.
“I’m just fortunate I get to hold the steering wheel and reap the benefits of that determination. I really feel like Brian and Alan feed off each other and always push each other. They’re not content with where they are. They’re always trying to do better and make their car better. When one outruns the other, the other comes back stronger so they keep elevating their game. Fortunately, Doug and I get to be the ones driving the race cars – we get to have fun with it.”
Langdon Photo Courtesy: NHRA
For Shawn Langdon’s 2026 race-by-race results, please click here.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 7:30-9 p.m. Friday, May 15 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 11:30-12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16 on FS1
- Finals: 35-8 p.m. Sunday, May 17 on FS1
The post Speed Demon Shawn Langdon Takes Top Fuel Points Lead into Joliet NHRA first appeared on Team Kalitta Motorsports.
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