Langdon Clinches 2013 Top Fuel Title

Shawn Langdon captured his first NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world championship following qualifying Saturday at the Auto Club NHRA Finals.

Langdon, a Southern California native, earned the title in front of a large contingent of family and friends at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona by qualifying second in the 16-car Top Fuel field. His closest challenger, defending series champ Antron Brown, qualified fifth overall, giving Langdon an insurmountable 104 point lead with only a maximum of 100 points available on Sunday.

Shawn Langdon

“You want to clinch the title as soon as you can,” Langdon said. “There’s a lot of pressure. I’ve been in some pressure situations before in racing, but nothing like this. It’s just the overall pressure of the Countdown.

“It’s been a great journey, but this is all a learning experience for me.”

Langdon’s second-best qualifying effort of 3.750 at 327.03 puts him in position to add to his category-best six season victories when he faces Steve Torrence in the opening round of eliminations.

The former NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League champion and two-time Super Comp champ in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series now joins an elite group of drivers who are NHRA Mello Yello Series Top Fuel world champions.

“When I think of an NHRA Top Fuel champion I think of Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, and Tony Schumacher,” Langdon said. “To be mentioned in that group now is just unbelievable.

“When I think of myself I am still that young kid on the opposite side of the fence dreaming of one day getting the chance to do it. I hope to have the opportunity to do this again.

(Photos courtesy NHRA/National Dragster)

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