Post-Race Report
NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals
Race 4 of 22 national events
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nevada
April 3, 2022
Langdon Drives DHL Top Fuel to Quarterfinals in Las Vegas
Shawn Langdon and the DHL Toyota Top Fuel dragster entered the NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals looking to capture their first win at the unique event. He wanted to add a Top Fuel trophy to the Funny Car title he won at the 2019 NHRA Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals. After four qualifying runs at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Langdon was sitting in the No. 11 spot but the veteran driver knew his team was in a good position to continue to improve.In a first round quad that included teammate Doug Kalitta as well as Leah Pruett and Rob Passey, Langdon was looking to advance with Kalitta to the second round. When the tree flashed Langdon was right behind Kalitta and quickly advanced down lane two. As the finish line closed in Langdon was in a prime position and crossed the finish line second behind Pruett. Langdon’s elapsed time of 3.853 seconds was just a shade off his best qualifying effort of 3.808 seconds. His winning run was smooth and right down the middle of his lane.
In the second round the 2013 Top Fuel world champion was joined by four-time world champion Steve Torrence, Brittany Force and Pruett. Langdon was the first dragster off the starting line with a strong .052 reaction time. As he was closing in on the finish line his dragster experienced some issues losing power and dropping him back in the pack.
“We definitely made some positive strides this weekend with our DHL Toyota dragster,” said Langdon. “That first round win was a nice boost and I don’t know what happened in the second round. We have a couple weeks off and then it’s on to Houston.”
Statistics:
Qualified: Qual. 11 (3.808 sec, 317.87 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
E1
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No.3; Leah Pruett .042 3.740 327.27 (W)
No. 11; Shawn Langdon .069 3.853 316.01 (W)
No. 6; Doug Kalitta .065 4.100 227.80
No. 14; Rob Passey .098 13.101 63.28
E2:
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No.2; Brittany Force .056 3.725 329.58 (W)
No. 7; Steve Torrence .057 3.744 328.46 (W)
No.3; Leah Pruett .068 3.745 325.69
No. 11; Shawn Langdon .052 3.884 294.31
Qualified: Qual. 11 (3.808 sec, 317.87 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
E1
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No.3; Leah Pruett .042 3.740 327.27 (W)
No. 11; Shawn Langdon .069 3.853 316.01 (W)
No. 6; Doug Kalitta .065 4.100 227.80
No. 14; Rob Passey .098 13.101 63.28
E2:
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No.2; Brittany Force .056 3.725 329.58 (W)
No. 7; Steve Torrence .057 3.744 328.46 (W)
No.3; Leah Pruett .068 3.745 325.69
No. 11; Shawn Langdon .052 3.884 294.31
DHL Toyota GR Supra and Todd Race to Quarterfinals at Four-Wide Nationals
Two-time NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals Funny Car winner J.R. Todd was looking to add a third trophy to his collection this weekend. Through four rounds of qualifying Todd and the DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car were qualified No. 9 with a 3.943 second run at 327.27 mph. The tough Funny Car category had Todd aligned with reigning Funny Car champion Ron Capps, veteran Tim Wilkerson and Jason Rupert in the opening quad.Todd was first off the starting line and had his hands full as his Toyota GR Supra Funny Car lurched down track and he was on and off the throttle. The wildness of the four-wide racing style was in full effect in this quad as Wilkerson was loose off the starting line and had to abort his run in the first second of competition. Rupert smoked the tires at the hit of the throttle and was not a factor. While Capps was on a smooth pass Todd crossed the finish line right behind him after his own eventful run.
Todd’s second round opponents included Capps as well as Matt Hagan and Bob Tasca III. Three of the four drivers were world champions and the opportunity for advancing to the final quad left little room for error. Once again Todd was the first off the line and made his best run of the weekend for the DHL Funny Car, a 3.936 second blast at 326.08 mph. Unfortunately, it was not enough to get around eventual event winner Ron Capps and Hagan.
“We’re still learning and making adjustments with this new GR Supra body, but this weekend we really feel like we’ve made some good progress with the race car overall,” said Todd. “We had some good qualifying passes and had to really drive our DHL GR Supra into the second round. Of course, we wanted more and wanted to be in the final round, but we’re learning and improving each race weekend.”
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 9 (3.943 sec., 327.27 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
E1
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No. 1; Ron Capps .073 3.970 268.65 (W)
No.9; J.R. Todd .072 4.419 245.85 (W)
No.8; Tim Wilkerson .079 8.045 97.06
No. 16: Jason Rupert .101 No Time
E2
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No. 1; Ron Capps .073 3.902 329.91 (W)
No. 4; Matt Hagan .060 3.919 320.43 (W)
No.9; J.R. Todd .047 3.936 326.08
No. 5; Bob Tasca III .073 3.949 323.12
Qualified: No. 9 (3.943 sec., 327.27 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
E1
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No. 1; Ron Capps .073 3.970 268.65 (W)
No.9; J.R. Todd .072 4.419 245.85 (W)
No.8; Tim Wilkerson .079 8.045 97.06
No. 16: Jason Rupert .101 No Time
E2
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No. 1; Ron Capps .073 3.902 329.91 (W)
No. 4; Matt Hagan .060 3.919 320.43 (W)
No.9; J.R. Todd .047 3.936 326.08
No. 5; Bob Tasca III .073 3.949 323.12
Doug Kalitta and Mac Tools Top Fuel Make Strides at Las Vegas Four-Wide Race
Through four rounds of qualifying at the NHRA Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals 49-time Top Fuel national event winner Doug Kalitta posted the quickest run of the first session and the third quickest run of the second session on Friday. His overall effort driving the Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel dragster positioned the perennial championship contender as the No. 6 qualifier going into race day. Last year Kalitta grabbed two win lights and was runner-up at this event.Today his first round quad included his teammate Shawn Langdon, Leah Pruett and Ron Passey. Kalitta was second off the line and was blasting down lane one looking to advance to the next round. As the finish line was closing in his dragster suffered a quick engine explosion robbing the Mac Tools machine of much needed momentum and opening the door for two opponents to sneak around him.
The team will take the positive runs from qualifying and turn their attention to the upcoming NHRA SpringNationals in Houston an event where Kalitta posted a runner-up finish in 2021.
“Today was a tough race but we are taking the positives and moving on to Houston,” said Kalitta. “This Mac Tools team has a lot of talent so we know we will keep moving in the right direction.”
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 6 (3.759 sec., 325.37 mph)
Bonus points: +4 (Quickest of Q1 and 3rd quickest of Q2)
Race Details:
E1
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No. 11; Shawn Langdon .069 3.853 316.01 (W)
No.3; Leah Pruett .042 3.740 327.27 (W)
No. 6; Doug Kalitta .065 4.100 227.80
No. 14; Rob Passey .098 13.101 63.28
Qualified: No. 6 (3.759 sec., 325.37 mph)
Bonus points: +4 (Quickest of Q1 and 3rd quickest of Q2)
Race Details:
E1
Qual/Driver RT ET MPH
No. 11; Shawn Langdon .069 3.853 316.01 (W)
No.3; Leah Pruett .042 3.740 327.27 (W)
No. 6; Doug Kalitta .065 4.100 227.80
No. 14; Rob Passey .098 13.101 63.28
Unofficial NHRA Camping World Championship Standings:
Top Fuel
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Funny Car
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About Kalitta Motorsports:
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Camping World Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. Celebrating over 60 years of Kalitta Motorsports, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with seven world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
