{"id":61525,"date":"2026-10-14T10:09:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T15:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=61525"},"modified":"2026-10-14T10:09:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T15:09:19","slug":"championship-leader-shawn-langdon-eyes-fifth-straight-win-first-texas-cowboy-hat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/14\/championship-leader-shawn-langdon-eyes-fifth-straight-win-first-texas-cowboy-hat\/","title":{"rendered":"Championship leader Shawn Langdon eyes fifth straight win, first Texas cowboy hat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel winner at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. (NHRA photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Mike Haag | Raceday San Antonio<\/strong><\/p>\n

ENNIS, Texas \u2013 NHRA Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon has his eye on the prizes \u2013 a Top Fuel world championship and a Texas Cowboy hat.<\/p>\n

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NHRA Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon. (NHRA photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Langdon rides into the Stampede of Speed Texas NHRA FallNationals next weekend with momentum and a winning attitude. The Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel racer has been nearly unstoppable in recent weeks, winning four consecutive NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events, including all three races to open the Countdown to the Championship.<\/p>\n

With the 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals approaching at the Texas Motorplex, Langdon can strengthen his hold on the standings and move closer to his second Top Fuel world title. He won his first Top Fuel title in 2013.<\/p>\n

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Shawn Langdon. NHRA photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Langdon enters the Oct. 14-18 event with eight victories this season and a 116-point lead over Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta. With three races remaining in the six-race Countdown, another strong performance could make him increasingly difficult to catch.<\/p>\n

Still, Langdon isn\u2019t ready to celebrate.<\/p>\n

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Doug Kalitta celebrates after winning the NHRA Top Fuel race last year at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals held at the Texas Motorplex. Langdon is hoping to earn himself a Texas Cowboy hat and another Wally trophy. (NHRA photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a good start to the Countdown with winning the first three, so we have a good lead,\u201d Langdon said in an interview with Raceday San Antonio. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that we\u2019re comfortable with it because Doug Kalitta, our teammate, is in the second spot, and we know what Alan Johnson and Doug Kalitta are capable of. So we just got to keep our heads down and keep working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Langdon\u2019s streak began with a victory at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, the final event of the regular season. He then swept the first three Countdown races (Michigan, Rockingham and St. Louis) and is now in position to win a fifth-straight race with a victory at the Texas Motorplex.<\/p>\n

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Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel winner at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. (NHRA photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He credited the Kalitta organization, his crew and crew chief Brian Husen for building one of the sport\u2019s fastest and most consistent Top Fuel dragsters in the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of big things within the Kalitta organization across the board with all three teams,\u201d Langdon said. \u201cBut our team in particular and Doug\u2019s team, we\u2019ve had one of them dream seasons so far this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crew have done a fantastic job this year putting the car together, as they do every year,\u201d he added. \u201cPutting together picture perfect every single time is a tall task, but these guys have been able to achieve that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team\u2019s performance was evident earlier this season at Martin, Michigan, where Langdon recorded a world record 346.95-mph run.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it was on a good run,\u201d Langdon said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know it was 346. Going that fast, you can\u2019t really tell the difference from a 343 to a 345 or 346. You just know it\u2019s on a really good run.\u201d<\/p>\n