If NHRA’s 75th season were already in its Countdown to the Championship phase, Shawn Langdon might be writing his champion’s banquet speech.
Instead, the Kalitta Motorsports driver keeps doing the only thing available this early in the season. He keeps stacking points, collecting round wins and putting himself in position for a regular-season championship that could become a valuable asset in his pursuit of a second Top Fuel world title.
Friday at Maryland International Raceway looked a lot like the rest of Langdon’s season.
Fast.
The Top Fuel points leader powered to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals with a 3.758-second run at 336.23 mph, edging teammate and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta in a side-by-side blast that immediately established the Maryland facility as a legitimate national-event track.
Joining Langdon atop the qualifying sheets were Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock and Angie Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
For Langdon, the performance represented another chapter in what has quietly become one of the strongest starts to a season in his career.
Three victories. Back-to-back wins entering the weekend. A growing points lead. And now another provisional No. 1 qualifier.
The most impressive part might be that nobody at Kalitta Motorsports expected Friday’s number.
“We didn’t think we could make that kind of run here today,” Langdon admitted. “We actually underestimated the track on the first run, and so Brian realized he could get after it a little more and we were able to take the No. 1 from Doug.
“This is just such a great team effort from everyone at Kalitta Motorsports, starting with Connie, and I’m just proud to be able to drive the car.”
The run came after a learning curve every nitro team expected when arriving at Maryland International Raceway for the first NHRA national event in facility history.
His team studied the racing surface throughout the day. Data became the most valuable commodity in the pits. Nobody truly knew what the racetrack would accept until race cars started making passes.
Langdon said the uncertainty forced teams into a more cautious approach during the opening session.
“Honestly, we came into the weekend not really expecting to make the run that we did right there,” Langdon said. “We had a whole different mindset for Q1, and just our focus was honestly just try to get the car down the racetrack and we were a little behind.
“The track actually was better than we gave it credit for in Q1. So Brian was like, ‘Okay, well, I see that now, so I’m going to have to get after it a little bit Q2.'”
The result was a run neither driver nor team expected when they unloaded.
Langdon’s pass not only moved him to the top of the field, it sent a message through the Top Fuel pits that Maryland International Raceway might have more performance left in it before the weekend ends.
When one reporter suggested Saturday’s conditions could be even quicker, Langdon smiled.
“I hope not, but okay,” Langdon said. “I’m up for the challenge.”
A moment later, he acknowledged what every crew chief was already thinking.
“If weather permitting tomorrow, we can go faster, we’re definitely going to try.”
Part of the challenge comes from learning a racetrack unlike most stops on the NHRA tour.
The facility features 330 feet of concrete before transitioning to asphalt, and teams were dealing with a racing surface prepared differently than the national-event tracks they typically visit. Langdon said the process reminded him of another first-year stop on the schedule.
“Well, it’s just the unknown because we really don’t,” Langdon said. “This track has concrete to 330 feet, and they use a different glue throughout the year than what we’re accustomed to running on national events. So the track is just different. So you have to figure it out.
“It’s just like when we went to South Georgia, great racetrack, but it was a little temperamental on the starting line. So we didn’t know that until we started making runs.. Coming here, we just have to see what we can get away with, but make smart, educated choices when you’re trying to attack the track,” Langdon said. “Fortunately, we’re able to make the best choice for today.”
Doug Kalitta’s 3.774 at 333.91 mph secured the second spot, while Tony Stewart continued his strong season by landing third with a 3.790 at 333.33.
