Courtesy NHRA Communications
POMONA, Calif. (March 19, 2024) – In picking up his first win in nearly four years to open the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, Shawn Langdon also picked up a handful of significant milestones along the way.
Along with the first Gatornationals win for the former Top Fuel world champ, Langdon also helped Kalitta Motorsports pick up its first-ever double-up in the nitro categories, handing Brian Husen a victory in his first race since being name crew chief before the season. It also gave Langdon his first victory at a season-opening race since 2015, summing up the fact that things couldn’t have gone much better for the veteran.
That 2015 season-opening victory came in Pomona, where Langdon will be this weekend for the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip. It’s still a very special race for the Mira Loma, Calif. native, especially since he’ll have the chance to continue his strong start at the second race of the 2024 season in his 11,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers Toyota dragster.
“A lot of this sport is results-driven, so when you go in a drought, you (see) the things online,” Langdon said. “But you take it with a grain of salt, keep your head down and keep working. But you’re with a great organization and we get the best of everything. Connie (Kalitta, team owner) is a great leader and sets a great example, so we really feel like we race as a family. It’s a great atmosphere over here. We’re going to get everything ready for Pomona and we consider it one of the majors. We’re going to keep working and try to progress as a team.”
Last year, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) took home top honors in their respective categories at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals. To repeat their titles, they’ll need to get past some of the biggest names in the sport at a race that will again be broadcasted on FS1, including eliminations coverage on Sunday, March 24 at 7 p.m. ET.
It’s the second of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season and Langdon couldn’t be happier with the start in Gainesville, which also included his first No. 1 qualifier since 2020. Things won’t get easier in a loaded Top Fuel lineup that includes teammate and defending world champion Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force, Ashley, Tony Schumacher and Top Fuel newcomer and racing legend Tony Stewart.
But with Husen calling the shots, things have clicked early and often for the team. Langdon also has the chance to come up big in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday. The specialty race offers a bonus purse and bonus championship points, bringing competitive racing to Saturday qualifying, and Langdon opens the Challenge against Antron Brown. The other pairing includes Steve and Billy Torrence, with the winners meeting up to close out qualifying.
“There’s just people that you click with and dating back to 2012, I always felt Brian and I clicked from day one,” Langdon said. “I say something and he gets it, and he says something and I understand it. We’ve just gotten along really well. I’ve always had great respect for him and I’m going to sing the praises for him. This new car is showing a lot of potential and I’m just so happy for Brian. He puts in so much time and effort behind the scenes, and he deserves every ounce of credit he gets. I’m so thankful to be his driver.”
Fans can also witness 45-plus nitro cars in action this weekend in Pomona. Along with the 21-car field in Funny Car and a 17-car Top Fuel entry list, the Legends Nitro Funny Cars will be in action this weekend, pushing the number of nitro cars to more nearly 50 at the second stop of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Hagan’s Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals victory gave him his second of six wins in 2023 and his seventh at the historic track en route to his world title. Hagan will face off against Bob Tasca III, three-time champ Ron Capps, Gatornationals winner J.R. Todd, NHRA legend John Force and Gainesville runner-up Austin Prock.
Glenn earned four race wins in 2023, including his win at Pomona. He also collected five runner-up finishes as well as two No. 1 qualifier positions. Glenn will be up against the likes of six-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Erica Enders, as well as Greg Anderson, Matt Hartford, Troy Coughlin Jr. and NHRA Finals winner Aaron Stanfield.
The Funny Car matchups in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge include Todd taking on Tasca, and a Prock-Green rematch. In Pro Stock, it will be Enders facing off with Anderson and Glenn racing against Cristian Cuadra.
Along with racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, fans can also see the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Legends Nitro Funny Cars and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, while the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department will hold a special racing exhibition. Following nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday, the “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander driven by “NitroMike” Kunz will put on a can’t-miss show.
The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, Total Seal Tech Talk, the NHRA Insider Live, meet and greets, and much more. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun.
Race fans at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features one round at 4:30 p.m. PT on Friday, March 22, and the final two rounds on Saturday, March 23 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The finals of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge take place at the end of final qualifying in each category. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 7 p.m. ET.
To purchase tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.
