YPSILANTI, Mich. (Aug. 12, 2025) – With two races remaining in the NHRA regular season, Shawn Langdon is right where he wants to be – atop the Top Fuel point standings; now the challenge is to stay there. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series continues Aug. 15-17 at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn.
Langdon and his Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary team are performing at a very high level reaching at least the semifinals at each of the last five races including Langdon’s third win of the season near Seattle last month. Langdon enters this weekend’s race leading second-place Tony Steward by 48 points, but he knows, Stewart, third-place Justin Ashley and fourth-place Doug Kalitta will be right there should he stumble.
“It feels good to be in the points lead,” Langdon said. “That’s our goal; it’s where we wanna be, but we obviously want to keep the lead. We need to keep plugging along and hopefully hold onto it through these last two races of the regular season. It’s gonna be difficult with all the competition in Top Fuel, but our job is to keep doing what we’re doing and keep getting to final rounds. Hopefully, we can win one of those last two to secure it and give us a good start to the playoffs.”
With Kalitta’s win one race ago in Sonoma, Team Kalitta swept Top Fuel on the western swing, and the points race is tight with the top four separated by 121 points with two races remaining before the playoff points reset.
“Anytime a team car wins, it’s a good feeling; we have three good-running cars at Team Kalitta,” Langdon added. “Obviously, Doug winning is our second-best option; they have a good team over there so our goal is to be one-two in points. We’re not there yet, but that’s always the goal.”
Kalitta’s win in Sonoma was the 99th Top Fuel win in Kalitta Motorsports history meaning the next race win for either Langdon or Kalitta will be the team’s 100th Top Fuel win. Earlier this season, Langdon won the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history, but capturing this particular milestone race would have a different feel.
“It would be a lot more special to win the 100th for Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) just because of what he puts into the sport,” Langdon added. “I’d do anything for that man; he’s a great man, a great boss and a great leader. I have a lot of respect for him so to be a part of his team’s 100th Top Fuel win would be an honor. It would be great for everybody at Kalitta Air and Kalitta Motorsports, too. It’ll be a huge accomplishment whenever it happens but mostly a testament to Connie’s hard work and dedication through the years.”
Race Information:
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
2024 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 5; defeated Shawn Reed, Doug Kalitta, Ida Zetterstrom; lost to Justin Ashley.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 362 events, 22 wins, 28 runner-up, 404 round wins, 21 No. 1 qualifiers.
2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Results to Date (Wins in Italics):
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Langdon and his Kalitta Air 25th Anniversary team are performing at a very high level reaching at least the semifinals at each of the last five races including Langdon’s third win of the season near Seattle last month. Langdon enters this weekend’s race leading second-place Tony Steward by 48 points, but he knows, Stewart, third-place Justin Ashley and fourth-place Doug Kalitta will be right there should he stumble.
“It feels good to be in the points lead,” Langdon said. “That’s our goal; it’s where we wanna be, but we obviously want to keep the lead. We need to keep plugging along and hopefully hold onto it through these last two races of the regular season. It’s gonna be difficult with all the competition in Top Fuel, but our job is to keep doing what we’re doing and keep getting to final rounds. Hopefully, we can win one of those last two to secure it and give us a good start to the playoffs.”
With Kalitta’s win one race ago in Sonoma, Team Kalitta swept Top Fuel on the western swing, and the points race is tight with the top four separated by 121 points with two races remaining before the playoff points reset.
“Anytime a team car wins, it’s a good feeling; we have three good-running cars at Team Kalitta,” Langdon added. “Obviously, Doug winning is our second-best option; they have a good team over there so our goal is to be one-two in points. We’re not there yet, but that’s always the goal.”
Kalitta’s win in Sonoma was the 99th Top Fuel win in Kalitta Motorsports history meaning the next race win for either Langdon or Kalitta will be the team’s 100th Top Fuel win. Earlier this season, Langdon won the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history, but capturing this particular milestone race would have a different feel.
“It would be a lot more special to win the 100th for Connie (Team Owner Connie Kalitta) just because of what he puts into the sport,” Langdon added. “I’d do anything for that man; he’s a great man, a great boss and a great leader. I have a lot of respect for him so to be a part of his team’s 100th Top Fuel win would be an honor. It would be great for everybody at Kalitta Air and Kalitta Motorsports, too. It’ll be a huge accomplishment whenever it happens but mostly a testament to Connie’s hard work and dedication through the years.”
Race Information:
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Brainerd International Raceway; Brainerd, Minn.
TV Schedule (All times eastern):
- Qualifying Show 1: 10-11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15 on FS1
- Qualifying Show 2: 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 on FS1
- Finals: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17 on FOX
2024 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Recap: Qualified No. 5; defeated Shawn Reed, Doug Kalitta, Ida Zetterstrom; lost to Justin Ashley.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 362 events, 22 wins, 28 runner-up, 404 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.
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