Shawn Langdon ready for Topeka

Langdon looking to heat up right along with the weather

TOPEKA, Kan. – Although the calendar may not say it yet, summer has arrived for Shawn Langdon and the Lucas Oil/Speedco Top Fuel dragster race team.

The NHRA Summer Nationals kick off this weekend at Heartland Park Topeka, and Langdon says it’s time to put the cool weather tune-ups on the shelf for a while.

"Generally when you go to Topeka, it’s hot and slippery," Langdon said. "You really want to try to tiptoe down the track. We’ve had to do that at a couple of tracks already this year, so we should be used to it by now."

Shawn Langdon

Photo by: Ted Rossino

Langdon recorded arguably the biggest single elimination-round victory of the season last weekend in Atlanta when he knocked off class points leader Del Worsham in Sunday's first session. It was a high mark moment in a time where the team has been struggling with various mechanical issues.

"We know we can run good, we just have to make the right decisions at the right time," Langdon said. "We managed to do that against Del. It was a big win for all of us.

"It’s so important this time of year to read the track and read the weather properly. We’ve shown we can cut good lights and run with the best of them. We know how to do all the right things. We just need to do them."

The Summer Nationals is the second of a stretch of five races in seven weeks. Success during this crucial run can really help Langdon’s points position. He is currently in seventh place, 42 points behind sixth-place runner Doug Kalitta.

"Right now we just need to do the right things consistently and put four good rounds together rather than just one or two," Langdon said.

-source: lucas oil racing