By Mike Haag | Raceday San Antonio
Shawn Langdon is peaking at the right time. He is just not winning Top Fuel drag races. He is putting himself in position to win the 2026 NHRA Top Fuel championship.
Langdon rolled to his fourth consecutive victory Sunday, defeating first-time finalist Will Smith in the final round of the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The victory was Langdon’s eighth of the season and the 30th Wally trophy of his career.
More importantly, the victory gave the Kalitta Motorsports driver a commanding lead in the point standings.
Langdon entered St. Louis 25 points behind Kalitta. He leaves 116 points ahead of his teammate with three races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship.
Langdon, who was the No. 1 qualifier, powered his Kalitta Air dragster to a 3.679-second pass at 339.87 mph to defeat Smith’s run of 3.742 at 332.75.
“With each run, it just builds more confidence,” Langdon said. “Obviously, the car is a great car right now. It listens very well, and it does what it’s told to do. The more runs we make, the more confidence we build.”
Langdon has won all three Countdown races and has not lost an elimination round during the playoffs. His road to the finals came after posting round wins against Tony Schumacher, Leah Pruett and Justin Ashley.
Smith’s runner-up finish was the best result of his career and his first trip to an NHRA final. He reached the championship round by defeating Maddi Gordon, Tony Stewart and Shawn Reed.
Kalitta, driving the Gerber Collision & Glass dragster, suffered the biggest loss in the championship points race when he was defeated in the opening round by Reed. The reigning Top Fuel champion was first off the line and leading but then smoked the tires. He tried to pedal the car but lost power when the blower belt broke. Kalitta’s loss to Reed created a 91-point swing between himself and Langdon.
“I was going down there, and the Gerber car seemed pretty good, but about two thirds of the away, it smoked the tires and threw the belt off when I pedaled. It’s just one of those deals,” Kalitta said. “With everybody running real close, you definitely have to get to the finish line. Thanks to everyone at Gerber Collision & Glass for being on the car this weekend.”
Langdon said the momentum has created a level of confidence inside the Kalitta Motorsports camp that he and the team continue to grow and learn with every pass.
“We just go out there and try to make the best run we can for the conditions,” Langdon said. “To put on performances like this, I feel like I’m living a dream right now. But it’s reality, and it’s great to be a part of it.”
Langdon also credited the entire Kalitta Motorsports organization for putting him in position to make the championship run.
“It really is incredible. All the credit goes to my guys and my whole team,” Kalitta said. “From Brian, Aaron and Justin to the whole Kalitta Air group, every one of the crew guys, the hospitality guys and everybody back at the shop. It’s just a huge team effort.”
Langdon said the team’s success is especially meaningful because of the legacy of Connie Kalitta, the longtime owner and founder of the organization.
“Obviously, we’re doing all this for Connie Kalitta,” Langdon said. “He gives us everything for us to go out there, live our dreams, have some fun, race a race car and go 346 miles an hour.”
“To be able to put on performances like this is just a testament to the guys, their hard work and the perfection with which they put the car together.”
Langdon’s next opportunity comes at the Stampede of Speed at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, where the Countdown continues October 16-18, followed by Countdown to the Championship races at the The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip,
After four consecutive victories, Langdon has quickly turned the Top Fuel championship from a tight battle into one he controls. He said he’s not ready for that streak to end.
“Hell no,” Langdon said when asked whether he would like a week off during his winning streak. “No weeks off during this time. This is the Countdown, baby.”
