Langdon, Hight, Edwards, Hall Winners at Indy
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| Shawn Langdon |
| Rhonda McCole/AR1.com |
Shawn Langdon made it two in row for the weekend as the NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points leader scored his first career US Nationals victory with a win over Steve Torrence at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.
Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also went to the winners circle in the 59th running of the US Nationals – the final regular-season event before the Countdown to the Champion begins.
Just a day after beating Torrence to win the Traxxas Nitro Shootout and earn a $100,000 payday, Langdon backed that up by beating Torrence again in the Top Fuel finals for his first US Nationals victory in Top Fuel, winning a matchup between two drivers with previous US Nationals wins in the lower series, looking for their first pro victory in “The Big Go".
Langdon, a former Super Gas winner in the US Nationals, beat out Pat Dakin, Terry McMillen and Doug Kalitta – setting the low ET in the second and third rounds – before moving on for his second-career final round matchup against Torrence, who has a US Nationals victory in Top Alcohol in 2005.
In the finals, both hit nearly identical lights to leave the line at a dead heat, staying nearly even until the halfway mark where Langdon finally pulled ahead, taking the win by a car-length over Torrence, posting a 3.818 at 320.97 mph over Torrence’s 3.907,309.63
“This is the biggest race of the year by far and this team just did a phenomenal job," said Langdon of his first Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victory. “With how special this event is and with the history behind the race, it was important for me to win this and I wanted it bad. This team has given me a great car and it’s a dream opportunity."
Langdon clinched the top seed in the 10-driver Countdown field, while Torrence locked up the ninth spot and Bob Vandergriff took the tenth and final spot in Top Fuel.
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| Robert Hight |
| Rhonda McCole/AR1.com |
In the Funny Car final, Robert Hight ended a 35-race winless drought and earned John Force Racing their sixth-straight US Nationals victory with a win over Jack Beckman for Hight’s second US Nationals win.
Hight defeated Cruz Pedregon, Johnny Gray and Del Worsham to move onto face Beckman, who was looking to double-up after his win in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout on Sunday.
At the start on the money round, Beckman was off the line first but broke loose before the 300-foot mark, giving Hight an easy pass, posting a 4.111 at 312.64 mph for his 28th-career victory and his first since the 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte in April of 2012.
“This is definitely the biggest win of my career," Hight said. “We won four races in a row last year and then to go into that dry spell, you start wondering and doubting yourself, and that wears on you. (Crew chief) Mike Neff really changed things for me this weekend and this was the perfect time to get a win."
Hight will go into the Countdown in the no. 9 position, while Tim Wilkerson and Del Worsham also clinched spots in the Countdown, bumping Bob Tasca III from the field.
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| Mike Edwards |
| Rhonda McCole/AR1.com |
Mike Edwards became a two-time US Nationals winner with a victory over V. Gaines in the Pro Stock finals, beating out Gaines on a holeshot to collect his sixth win of the season and 40th of his career.
After taking down Chris McGaha in the opening round, Edwards went onto beat defending champion Allen Johnson and Greg Anderson on holeshots, becoming the first driver in US Nationals history to win the event on three holeshot wins.
In the final, Edwards was first off the line with a .032 light and held led wire to wire, going 6.637 at 208.39 mph to a Gaines’ quicker 6.620, 208.78 for his first US Nationals victory since 1998.
“I’m ready to start the Countdown," said Edwards, who will start the Countdown as the top seed in Pro Stock. “It’s going to be a battle and a fight, and it’s going to come down to what drive can perform the best. But I feel like with my car and my team that we’re capable of winning, and it’s going to be fun."
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| John Hall |
| Rhonda McCole/AR1.com |
The Pro Stock Motorcycle final saw teammates facing each other in the finals, with John Hall taking down the boss, Matt Smith for his second career victory.
In just his second final-round appearance, Hall trailed Smith off the line but managed to chase him down at the 600-foot mark, moving ahead to beat Smith to the line by a wheel-length to pick up his first US Nationals victory.
It was Hall’s second-career PSM victory, after nabbing his first back in June at the inaugural race at New Hampshire.
“We just went for it and I was lucky enough to get the win," Hall said. “It felt great to get that second Wally and this is huge for Viper Motorcycles. Everybody out there is tough and you have to be on top of your game to win one of these."