NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Drivers tend to have tracks where they can seem to do no wrong and others where they can do no right for reasons that they can’t explain. Shawn Langdon’s history and success at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona gives him confidence while competing in the Red Fuel/Sandvik Coromant Top Fuel dragster at the Circle K NHRA Winternationals.

Langdon is the most recent winner on the tour after scoring in Pomona in November, which bookended his 2015 season with victories in Pomona. The 2013 Mello Yello world champion has earned four of his 11 Professional victories at the track where he grew up racing in the Jr. Dragster and Sportsman ranks.

“I don’t know why, but I’m not mad about it,” said Langdon. “I get that home feeling when I’m racing here. I get to be around family and friends. I started my career here in 1994 racing Jr. Dragsters. The Winternationals is always the most hectic race because it’s a new season, but being here gives me calmness at times.”

Langdon has more reason for optimism after his first full offseason with Don Schumacher Racing. He finished No. 6 in the 2015 standings despite joining the team days prior to the start of the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship after Alan Johnson Racing parked its dragster in search of funding. Crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Phil Shuler worked hard during the winter to make sure that the team is in title contention in the highly competitive category.

“Under the circumstances, we did pretty darn good,” said Langdon. “We ended the year making a career-best run for the team with that 3.71 in the final. I’m pretty comfortable with the new car they built over the winter, and there have been no issues driving with the canopy.

“Testing was a big success. Everything we changed over the offseason worked great. It showed the improvements that we wanted to see. I’m excited for my first full year with the team.”