While rain shortened this weekend’s qualifying for the Circle K NHRA Winternationals to just three rounds, Shawn Langdon put Saturday’s single round to good use, setting both ends of the track record in Top Fuel with a 3.700-second run at 328.30 mph. Langdon’s time will become the national record if he can post another run on Sunday within one-percent of 3.700 seconds – a time of 3.737 seconds or quicker.
Courtney Force (Funny Car) and Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) qualified No. 1 in their respective fields at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in California.
Langdon faces Steve Chrisman in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.
“It was just a picture perfect run,” said Langdon, the 2013 Top Fuel champ. “It left, had the front end up, it was accelerating hard and it just pulled all the way until I shut it off. I went through the finish line and I thought I got a glimpse of the 3.70 on the scoreboard but wasn’t really sure. On a 100 degree day on the track, I really wasn’t even thinking about a 3.70. It wasn’t really until I turned the corner and saw everyone hooting and hollering that I was like ‘Ah, I guess I did see that.’”
Richie Crampton qualified No. 2 with a pass of 3.730 at 328.46 mph, followed by Doug Kalitta at No. 3 with a 3.733-second pass at 327.59 mph.
Force’s fast pass of 3.995 seconds at 322.65 mph on Saturday was a career-best, her first official run at better than four seconds; she’ll face Gary Densham in the first round.
“It was flying down there,” said Force. “That sand trap was coming up quick. It was just a great run for us, especially because we’re trying to come out here on a high note because we’ve got new sponsors on board. It was awesome flying down there. I knew it was a fast run. Honestly, I didn’t know how fast. I could only tell by the expression on my team’s face and that’s how I knew it was a good one.”
Tommy Johnson Jr. was the No. 2 qualifier following his run of 4.018 seconds at 314.36 mph, followed by John Force in third with a 4.021 at 320.28 mph. 2012 Funny Car champ Jack Beckman, backed by former John Force Racing members Jimmy Prock and John Medlen, failed to qualify at Pomona.
Enders-Stevens, the reigning Pro Stock champ, earned the No. 1 qualifier on Saturday with a fast pass of 6.516 at 213.10 mph. She’ll face Matt Hartford in the first round on Sunday.
“This hasn’t been the best start for us, even though we (finished as the low qualifier),” said Enders-Stevens. “I was very surprised nobody went around us earlier today… I wish that we would have gotten this last run in. We wanted to try some things, but (that will have to wait until) tomorrow… Going into Sunday with only one (full) run under your belt, it’s a little nerve-wracking, but I know if anybody can do it, we can do it. I have the best guys in the world and I’m excited to see what tomorrow brings.”
Jason Line earned the No. 2 spot with a pass of 6.523 at 212.93 mph, while Rodger Brogdon will start third in after his pass of 6.524 seconds at 212.33 mph.
Eliminations for the Circle K NHRA Winternationals begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT. Keep up with the NHRA at www.nhra.com.
Quotes in this piece provided by the NHRA.
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