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Lucas Oil's Langdon wins Indy in his other car
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 6) – Shawn Langdon has won plenty of big races in his career. He's won championships in the Lucas Oil Series, big money bracket races, and national events of all kinds.
The only hole on Langdon's resume was a victory at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.
Monday at O'Reilly Raceway Park, Langdon had what he called the best day of his racing career. He went to the semifinals in the Lucas Oil/Speedco Top Fuel dragster and more impressively won the Super Gas title to add an Indy win to his list of accomplishments.
"In the Top Fuel car we made some really good runs," Langdon said. "We finally got that one lucky round we'd been waiting for all year. To win in the Super Gas car was huge for me personally. Winning at Indy has been the one thing that has eluded me my whole career."
In Top Fuel, Langdon, who qualified 12th, beat Antron Brown on a holeshot, meaning he ran a slower elapsed time but won because he left the starting line well ahead of his rival. As he normally does, Langdon got an advantage at the tree, but this time it was crucial. Brown ran a quicker 3.851 second pass at 316.75 mph to Langdon's 3.853 at 309.20, but Langdon's .008 second advantage leaving the starting line allowed the Lucas Oil/Speedco rail to cross the line first.
"First round was a phenomenal race with Antron," Langdon said. "To win on a holeshot like that in the first round at Indy was just huge."
In the second round against Brandon Bernstein, Langdon caught a break. Bernstein's car did the prerace burnout but then died. His crew wasn't able to get the car started and Langdon got a solo pass into the semifinals. The engine on Langdon's car blew on that pass and he ran a 5.313 at 111.65 mph.
The crew thrashed and got the car ready for a semifinal against eventual U.S. Nationals champion, Larry Dixon. Langdon got the jump (by .014 seconds) on Dixon, but the class points leader had too much power for Langdon.
Dixon sailed across with a 3.843 at 317.94 mph to Langdon's 3.900 at 306.19 mph.
"Against Dixon, I came back and told the guys they did a great job," Langdon said. "There was nothing to be ashamed about that. We made a good run and didn't mess anything up, we just lost a good race. Larry is the Indy champ for a reason, he made good runs all day."
With his day, Langdon moves up to fourth in the Full Throttle Top Fuel standings. He's 45 points behind Tony Schumacher for third.
Langdon didn't have much time to sulk, because he was still alive in Super Gas. He dispatched Craig Maddox in the semifinals then beat David Tatum in the finals.
"To be able to get an Indy win, it's just the dream," Langdon said. "This is what I've lived for my whole life. Actually we were afraid that we were going to get disqualified for having too many people on the starting line, because my whole Top Fuel crew came to support me.
"I have to thank the Hughes Performance Group. They made it happen for me by letting me drive their car. I can't forget Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, either. We're fourth in points now and we're making statements."
Up next for both Langdon and Arana is the Sept. 16-19 O'Reilly Auto Parts Carolina Nationals.
