Langdon takes a Wally as Don Schumacher Racing dominates St. Louis
Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Alex Laughlin (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) took their respective class wins at Sunday's AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis.
For Don Schumacher Racing, it was a huge day as they secured all four spots in the Top Fuel and Funny Car final rounds.
In Top Fuel, it was Shawn Langdon and Tony Schumacher facing off for DSR in the final. The points had already been shaken up after Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta, Steve Torrence and Brittany Force - the top four in points coming in - all failed to make it to the semis. Tony Schumacher capitalized on the situation, sitting fifth on the points coming in, while Langdon had to hold off Brown, Kalitta and Crampton just to make it to the final. At the end of the day, it was Langdon knocking out yet another top-name competitor as he took his third win of the season.
Likewise in Funny Car, it was an all-DSR final as Tommy Johnson Jr. and Jack Beckman advanced out of the semis. Of the three points leaders entering - Ron Capps, Del Worsham and John Force - only Capps made it through to the semis, where he was knocked out by Beckman. For Johnson, making the final was a big opportunity as he came in fourth in the points. However, it was Beckman taking the win as Johnson hit trouble down the track in the final, and Beckman moved up to third in the points.
With the three KB Racing cars all on the right side of the Pro Stock ladder, it was to be expected that one of them would make it to the final. In the end, it was Bo Butner taking that final spot after a holeshot win over teammate Jason Line in the semis. Alex Laughlin, the only non-countdown driver in all four classes to make it out of Round 1, also made it to the final with a holeshot win over Shane Gray. With Butner and Laughlin in the final, it was guaranteed the class would see a first-time winner. At the end of the day, it was Laughlin taking home the spoils.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, points leaders Andrew Hines and Chip Ellis were eliminated before the final. Angelle Sampey defeated Ellis in the semis to advance, while Savoie defeated Cory Reed. Savoie took his third career win while Sampey, third in the points entering St. Louis, red-lighted, although she now moves right into the championship hunt, just behind Hines.
NHRA will be back in action next weekend with the NHRA Keystone Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
