![\"2016_shawn_langdon_action\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/2016_Shawn_Langdon_Action-e1477257591470.jpg?resize=625%2C417\")
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LAS VEGAS \u2013 The last time Shawn Langdon<\/strong> was at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he was mired in a frustrating early-season slump that included five straight first-round losses to open the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series<\/a> season.<\/p>\n Much has changed since that March race and Langdon is now in the midst of an impressive finish to his year. The 2013 Top Fuel world champion has posted three victories, including one in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, and sits in third place in his 10,000-horsepower Red Fuel\/Sandvik dragster heading back to Las Vegas Oct. 27-30 for the 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we did at the beginning of the year, nobody was hanging their heads,\u201d said Langdon, who is 172 points back of teammate and points leader Antron Brown. \u201cYou\u2019re just going to go through struggles once in a while. But what we\u2019ve done since is what we\u2019re capable of. I\u2019m very proud of what we\u2019ve been able to accomplish in my first full year as a driver with the team. We\u2019ve got a great car, a great team and everyone\u2019s done a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year\u2019s winners of the event that will for the first time be aired on FOX Sports 1 this October. On Sunday, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 4 p.m. (ET).<\/p>\n The race is the fifth of sixth races in the Countdown to the Championship and the penultimate event of the 2016 NHRA season. Langdon has his sights set on a big finish and capitalizing on his victory in St. Louis.<\/p>\n \u201cStarting the Countdown in seventh, we\u2019ve made a really good move and have a great chance to finish second,\u201d said Langdon, who trails Kalitta by just 22 points. \u201cWe still have a very, very outside chance to win a championship, but second place is nothing to hang your head about in this class. There\u2019s so many tough, competitive teams and we\u2019re just going to continue to try and win races.\u201d<\/p>\n Langdon\u2019s late-season surge is even more impressive considering his first-round loss at the Countdown opener in Charlotte. The team, led by crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara, has responded with a victory and two semifinal finishes, and Langdon hopes to dial it up even more in Las Vegas and then the finale in Pomona.<\/p>\n \u201cThis a great race at a great facility and one of the races you definitely look forward to every year,\u201d Langdon said. \u201cIt\u2019s obviously a big race and it would be really good to end the year on a good note. Being one of the races for your sponsor and knowing you\u2019ll have a lot of friends and family there, you definitely get up for these kinds of races.\u201d<\/p>\n Force\u2019s John Force Racing teammate Hight won in Funny Car last year, but Ron Capps currently holds a 24-point advantage over Tommy Johnson Jr. Capps also must hold off the likes of Jack Beckman, reigning world champ Del Worsham and Matt Hagan.<\/p>\n Enders clinched her second straight Pro Stock championship a year ago with a Vegas win, but this season has belonged to teammates Jason Line and Greg Anderson. Points leader Line has eight wins in 2016 and Anderson, who is 45 points back, has seven.<\/p>\n Hines\u2019 Vegas victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle in 2015 helped clinched a second straight title. Hines has five wins this year and has a 38-point lead on teammate Eddie Krawiec.<\/p>\n The NHRA Toyota Nationals also features competition in the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. As always, fans have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they\u2019re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet.<\/p>\n Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying feature two rounds at 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, and two final rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30.<\/p>\n To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-644-4444 or 702-644-4444. Tickets available online at www.lvms.com<\/a>.\u00a0 Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more info visit www.NHRA.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n NHRA TOYOTA NATIONALS<\/strong><\/p>\n WHAT:<\/strong> 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals, the 23rd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the fifth of six\u00a0playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro<\/p>\n Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.<\/p>\n WHERE:<\/strong> The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas. Track is located approximately 15 miles north of Las Vegas off I-15.<\/p>\n COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 2,100 feet above sea level; Track direction is south to north.<\/p>\n WHEN:<\/strong> Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 27-30<\/p>\n SCHEDULE:<\/strong> THURSDAY, Oct. 27 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying<\/p>\n FRIDAY, Oct. 28 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying<\/p>\n NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.<\/p>\n MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.<\/p>\n SATURDAY, Oct. 29 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations<\/p>\n NHRA J&A SERVICE PRO MOD SERIES qualifying at 1:30 p.m. Round 1 of eliminations at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 11:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n SUNDAY, Nov. 1 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10:15 a.m.<\/p>\n MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n TELEVISION:<\/strong> Friday, Oct. 28, FOX Sports 1 (FS1) will televise one hour of live qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).<\/p>\n Sunday, Oct. 30, FS1 will air one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. (ET).<\/p>\n Sunday, Oct. 30, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 4 p.m. (ET).<\/p>\n 2015 EVENT WINNERS:<\/strong> Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; Robert Hight, Funny Car; Erica Enders, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.<\/p>\n MOST VICTORIES:<\/strong> Andrew Hines, PSM, 5; Greg Anderson, PS, 4; Ron Capps, FC, 4; Tony Schumacher, TF, 4; John Force, FC, 3.<\/p>\n TRACK RECORDS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Top Fuel – 3.722 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. \u201915 and 332.67 mph by Shawn Langdon, Oct. \u201915.<\/p>\n Funny Car – 3.931 sec. by Tommy Johnson Jr., Oct. \u201915 and 325.92 mph by Del Worsham, Oct. \u201915.<\/p>\n Pro Stock – 6.559 sec. and 210.28 mph by Erica Enders, Oct. \u201915.<\/p>\n Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.852 sec. by Jerry Savoie, Oct. \u201915; 196.56 mph by Eddie Krawiec, Oct. \u201911<\/p>\n NATIONAL RECORDS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Top Fuel – 3.671 sec. by Steve Torrence, July \u201916, Sonoma, Calif.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. \u201915, Brainerd, Minn.<\/p>\n Funny Car – 3.822 by Matt Hagan, Aug. \u201916, Brainerd, Minn.; 335.57 mph by Hagan, May \u201916, Topeka, Kan.<\/p>\n Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May \u201814, Englishtown N.J.<\/p>\n PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. \u201912, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March \u201915, Charlotte, N.C.<\/p>\n![\"2016_shawn_langdon\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/2016_Shawn_Langdon.jpg?resize=214%2C300\")
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