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Shawn Langdon is First NHRA Lucas Oil Series Back-to-Back Super Comp Champion
In the 2008 NHRA Drag Racing season, many records have been shattered, but one championship title that might have been unnoticed is the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super Comp championship where 26-year old, Shawn Langdon is its first back-to-back champion in the history of the sport.
Unlike last year when Langdon surged to the front of the pack and kept his Lucas Oil points in contention throughout 2007, this year, he had to overcome a deficit and made a strong charge to overtake his fellow Super Comp racers.
“I started off the year with a new T&T SuperCars dragster and began the season very well winning our first race,” said Langdon with a smile. “In fact, at one point we had built up a string of 17 consecutive round wins. We started like gangbusters, but then didn’t fare too well in the middle part of the season. There were times where we didn’t have the best of luck as well as I have to admit the driver fell off on a couple of races, but when it came to crunch time towards the end of the year right after Indy I had my final three races for the divisionals and really stepped it up. We actually gained a bunch of points, won one of them, went a bunch of rounds the last two, squeaked it out, and ended up 11 points ahead to win the championship outright.”
As being the first to win consecutive Super Comp titles, it’s still hard for Langdon to vision his recent accomplishments, but now feels that maybe his name should be added to the impressive list of NHRA sportsman champions.
“They said that’s the first time anyone has won it back-to-back,” said an ecstatic Langdon. “There’s a couple of drivers who have won it two times, with the names Edmond and Scotty Richardson, Gary Stinnett and people like that you grew up idolizing and you respect very much to be put in the same category as them is really mind-boggling. It’s a great honor to be a champion, but to be a two-time champion is a better honor.”
This two-year trek began with a move to Indiana from California and with the backing of Lucas Oil Products and new car-owners of Charlotte and Forrest Lucas, everything came into play to help promote his racing prowess.
“Last year was really my first year to campaign a full-time effort,” said Langdon. “I had always been up in the points but never having a real good title shot. Last year’s points were a little different from this year. That year in the first six months we pretty much collected all of my points and then the last couple of months were pretty much sit back, watch and wait.
This year we went about it a little differently. First, I moved back to Indiana so I was able to do a little more bracket racing and we didn’t finish my last race until the middle of October. Last year, I kind of set the points standard and everyone started to catch up. This year I did that early in the season and then many people passed me. At that point, I had fallen out of the Top 10 in the middle of the year and by going a bunch of rounds towards the end, it became very interesting as I had my racing destiny in my own hands. I like to know that because it tells me going into the race how many rounds I have to match or exceed and with a little bit of luck I was able to do that.”
Having Lucas Oil Products founders, Charlotte and Forrest Lucas in his court has made all the difference in the world and Langdon definitely appreciates their loyalty and dedication to the sport and to him, personally.
“They’ve been incredible,” said Langdon. “They are like a second family to me. They have been there since day one of racing Super Comp. We started with just a sponsorship with Lucas Oil Products and then later escalated into what it is today with a full sponsorship ride. I’ve raced in six or seven races this year with their A-Fuel car and with that gave me full reign of the Super Comp operation of allowing me to take Charlotte’s car and mine around the country to fulfill my dream of being a professional sportsman racer. It means everything in the world to me. In my wildest dreams, I used to imagine winning the Super Comp championship. To win two in a row is certainly something I could have never imagined. It’s a great honor to win a championship...and I’m living my dream and couldn’t ask for anything more.
The future is bright for the now Avon, Indiana resident and for 2009 he hopes to continue his incredible racing streak. Understanding how to make all the rounds count and how to pursue a third title is definitely on his mind.
“I would like to say another championship, but that’s pretty tough and a far reach speaking now,” said a concerned Langdon. “I don’t know if it’s out of the question, but it’s still pretty far-fetched. We have good cars and great sponsors, so it’s not out of the question, but it’s still pretty far out there and I would like to think we have a good shot at it. It’s just a situation to do our best and let the chips fall where they may.
As Langdon approaches the NHRA Lucas Oil Championship ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Hollywood on Monday in accepting his many accolades, there will be many thoughts roaming in his head. He will be out of normal element of motorsports and donning a tuxedo is something less desired than a first-round match up on race day.
“I’ll probably be pretty nervous,” laughed Langdon. “I’m still getting used to standing up on the stage in front of people. It will be a great honor to be up there in front of all my family, friends, competitors and all my sponsors, too, to accept this award. It’s one of the highest and most prestigious deals to win an NHRA world championship. That’s the top and it doesn’t get any better than that.”
The question is could Langdon stay strong in the Super Comp division and replicate it for a possible third World championship? It's only time will tell according to Langdon.
‘I guess the only way to answer that is a three-peat performance and see if that is possible, Langdon said. “Of course, I would like to step up and try something else in a different class sometime in the future. Fortunately, with a few friends, I was able to drive a Super Gas car this year in addition and right now I’m in eighth-place in that. I would like to see me move up eventually to the Alcohol ranks and maybe one-day step up to a pro car. It’s just a matter of falling into the right deal at the right time. I know there’s still a lot to learn. I feel by that time I would be ready for something like that; more for the challenge of it.”
2008 Top 20 Super Comp Points Standings 11/14/08
Position Points N/D
1. Shawn Langdon 644 15/9
2. Steve Cohen 633 6/8
2.Gary Stinnett 633 6/8
4. Terry Edwards 621 6/8
5. Mike Robilotto 578 6/8
6. Jason Kenny 576 10/8
7. Aaron Kinard 569 6/9
8. Steve Williams 558 9/8
9. Sherman Adcock, Jr. 555 7/8
9. Tommy Phillips 555 7/8
11. Rick Beckstrom 544 5/8
12. Mike Fuqua 533 5/8
13. Jeff Cheney 532 5/8
14. Dean Hall 512 3/5
15. Jeff Brooks 481 6/6
15. Lindsey Wood 481 4/8
17. Bob Fuller 480 8/8
18. Ken Mostowich 479 5/8
