Langdon Completes License Upgrade For Top Fuel

PHOENIX January 26, 2009: Two-time and reigning Super Comp world champion Shawn Langdon completed the necessary passes to upgrade his NHRA competition license to Top Fuel Monday at Firebird International Raceway.

Langdon guided his Lucas Oil/Dixie Choppers Top Fuel dragster through a 3.882-second pass at 306.46 mph to cap a four-day test session that yielded more than enough runs to earn his license. He also went 3.942 at 282.36 mph Monday, with several intermediate runs carded over the weekend.

"I was really nervous coming into the weekend for a number of reasons," Langdon said. "To be standing here now having made 10-plus launches, half passes, and today's two full pulls is awesome. I have a great team around me with Stewie (crew chief John Stewart) and Morgan (Lucas, teammate) and they helped me every step of the way.

"There were a lot of scenarios I had in my head and most of them happened this weekend, like what it feels like to have tire shake, drop a cylinder, or smoke the tires, but now I've experienced them first-hand so I know what it's like. I've got a lot to learn but I do feel like I can go to Pomona and race this car now."

Lucas, who zoomed to a terrific 3.835 at 311.05 mph in his GEICO/Lucas Oil dragster Monday, was pleased with Langdon's progress.

"He looked like he's been doing this for years," Lucas said. "Obviously, he's already a very accomplished drag racer with the wins and championships he's earned so that wasn't a concern. What we were looking for was his ability to handle the incredible speed and acceleration of a Top Fuel car. I think he did an excellent job.

"Shawn has really been a great student. He's doing all the things we've asked him to do and his track awareness has been perfect. He didn't try to push it too hard this weekend while the guys were getting the car figured out and he provided some great feedback to Stewie. It's going to be very cool to watch him grow as a driver this year."

Lucas and Langdon plan to stay in Phoenix Tuesday to make a few more runs before a quick trip back home to Indianapolis to prep for the season-opening 49th annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif.