Shawn Langdon is one of the NHRA Top Fuel class’ best “leavers,” getting the jump more often than not on his opponents at the starting line.

He also might be one of its best strategists.

Most of what he predicted for the call-out portion of the Pep Boys All-Star Shootout at the Amalie Oil Gatornationals happened on stage Friday at the Gainesville Raceway Top Eliminator Club.

In a break from traditional pairing that’s based on performance, the top-seeded racers get a say in who they want to square off against in the first of three rounds. And the quickest winner from Round 1 gets to name his or her semifinal-round foe.

The first two rounds of the $80,000-to-win specialty event will take place during Saturday’s regularly scheduled qualifying sessions for this third race of the 2022 Camping World Drag Racing Series season. The action is set to begin at 11:45 a.m. ET. The semifinal round should follow at 1:30 p.m., with the final round at 3:15 p.m. The FOX broadcast network will provide coverage, starting at 2 p.m. ET Saturday.

Steve Torrence, who had first pick of the seven other qualifiers, targeted No. 6 qualifier Leah Pruett for his first-round opponent. Mike Salinas called out Langdon. Brittany Force, saying all the competition was tough so she resorted to alphabetical order, picked Antron Brown. That left Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta as the two drivers Langdon predicted nobody likely would want to pick.

Before naming Pruett, Torrence said, “We gathered up as a crew, and I got with my crew chiefs. I thought about it, they thought about it, the fans thought about it. L.P. has been one of our fiercest competitors for years, and we've gone at it head-to-head, so to put on a show for all these fans, that's awesome. We'll have a good time between us, and we'll put on a good show for you guys, and it'll be a lot of fun.”

Torrence had said earlier in the week that he planned to “pick the guy or girl we think we can beat right out of the box and having our best chance of collecting that check.”

But Pruett wasn’t insulted. Instead, she said, I feel like it's a sign of respect to Tony Stewart Racing, to Neal Strausbaugh, my crew chief. We do have something to prove, and I would love to do it against nobody else but Steve. I couldn't be more excited about it.”

Langdon figured this past Tuesday that “probably in Steve’s position, his best shot is to call out Leah. Brittany is in a very, very tough position. It’s kind of a pick your poison thing, really. There’s a good chance she might call me out. I think if she doesn’t, it’ll go down to Mike. Mike would probably call me out. If one of them happened to call out Justin, that’s a tough pick. I don’t see them calling out Justin [Ashley] first round. But who do you call out? They’re all tough picks.”

After No. 2-seeded Force selected No. 4 Brown, he entertained the audience of fans and media members with a grand comedy shtick – even though he’s serious about wanting and needing to grab the season’s largest payout. Brown, who’s at only his third race after establishing his own Top Fuel team, said, “I don’t know how many 0s are in this check, but I got some bills to pay.” 

Brown said, “You know, I'm just thinking about all the [advice] I used to talk to Brittany about.” Then, turning to her, he said, ‘Don't listen to it girl. I lied to you.’”

Then he said, “When you get to come out here and you get to race these competitors, I like this. This is like as a kid growing up on the basketball court. You get to talk a little smack, and I'll tell you, the hardest part is when you go race against a girl that looks like Brittany, it's hard to whip up on Barbie. She's so pretty, but I'm going to pretend like Barbie stole my lunch money.”

Force said she enjoyed the process, as well as Brown’s playful remarks: “I was second in line and had the opportunity. So, [after] some team meetings, we called out Antron Brown. Pretty exciting stuff. He’s an awesome sport. We got on stage and messed around and did some fun interviews together.

Kidding aside, she said, “We want to win this race within a race in Gainesville, win the $80,000 and that big trophy for the first callout-style shootout NHRA has had. We also want to try and qualify well. We’re hoping the rain lets up and we get some runs in tomorrow and ultimately get set up for race day.”

Langdon, the eighth and final qualifier, was right about his own fate. Salinas, the Arizona Nationals winner two weeks ago and the No. 3 seed for this Pep Boys-sponsored bonus opportunity, called Langdon’s name.

“I think Shawn is one of the best leavers in the game,” Salinas said, explaining that he always wants “to rise to the occasion. I want to go for the best guys. I think Shawn is one of the best drivers out here and that we can take him down. That's saying something.”

Langdon had something to say about that: “He’s obviously coming off a win in Phoenix and did an exceptional job but, you know, I think, when we go pound for pound, hopefully my reaction-time advantage, and if we get into a pedaling scenario, we're going to try to take advantage of that.”

By default, No. 5 Ashley and No. 7 Kalitta formed the fourth pairing. And Ashley’s initial strategizing was out the window. 

“I was all mentally prepared to be called out or do the calling out. One way or another, I had every situation in my head, and I'm the last one back there, so it's just me against Dougie. It's going to be a good show. It'll be fun for the fans.”

And it’ll be fun for whoever winds up $80,000 richer.