Shawn Langdon is hoping to give Al-Anabi Racing and the Al-Anabi Toyota another NHRA Top Fuel championship.
NHRA Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon admits that he has never been one to seek out the limelight. It just seems to find him.
Langdon, 31, is sure to have a few more eyes on him over the next six races after an NHRA regular season that has included five wins, including the U.S. Nationals and the big-payday Traxxas Nitro Shootout, as well as a top seed in the six-race Countdown to the Championship that begins this weekend in Charlotte.
"It's pretty humbling for me to just walk through [the garages and paddocks] and get noticed by some people who you wouldn't think would notice you," Langdon said. "People that I watch on TV, athletes. It's kind of neat. It tickles you a little bit just to know they follow you and are fans of what you do, just like I'm fans of what they do, as well.
"It's taken me a little getting used to that people are noticing me. I just go out there to race."
Langdon, in his second year driving for Toyota and Al-Anabi Racing, has handled the racing part of the equation just fine this year in winning the regular-season championship by a lopsided 205 points. He has advanced to the semifinals or finals in 12 of his last 14 races.
"I think, by what we've been able to accomplish this year, I think we can definitely go into the Countdown considering ourselves the favorite," Langdon said. "There's still a lot of racing to go – with six races to go, it's going to be tough. The competition level is so strong right now. It's just basically no room for mistakes. There's not much room for error. We've just got to keep doing what we've been doing all year long.
" If we just keep our heads down and work hard, just do the best job we can, and hopefully it will all fall into place."
Langdon is making his fifth consecutive appearance in the Countdown, with his first three coming with Morgan Lucas Racing. His best finish in the Countdown was fourth a year ago. This is the spot – the favorite's role -- that Langdon hoped he would find himself in when he got the phone call from Al-Anabi team manager Alan Johnson two years ago that changed his career path.
"Originally, when I got the phone call, I knew where Alan lived, I knew his area code," Langdon said. "So, when my phone started ringing, I saw the area code, and I thought to myself, 'That would be kind of funny if it were Alan.' And, sure enough, it was.
"We talked for a little while and he had offered some things and I basically said that it was something I was interested in. The first person I called after that was my dad, and I said, 'You'll never guess who just called.' I've always dreamed about being where I'm at now, but you never really think it could happen."
And now that it's happened for Langdon, he couldn't be happier.
Shawn Langdon celebrates his $100,000 win at the Traxxas Shootout.
"I'm just very fortunate to be able to be a part of this team," Langdon said. "The whole Al-Anabi team is just so easy to work for. I really feel like I'm a great fit over here because I'm very passionate about racing, and, first and foremost, I want to win. I also want to have a lot of fun. So, that's how this team is.
"When the car is out, your focus is to race cars, and you're down to business. But when the car gets put away, then it's time to cut up and enjoy your time and enjoy what you do being on the road, going to different cities, and enjoying all of it. Of course, it's always easy to enjoy a season when you're winning, but I think there's a lot more things outside of that that I'm able to enjoy that go along with it."
Charlotte has been good to Langdon since his move to Al-Anabi. He won his first career race there last fall and was strong again at this year's spring meet. It all adds up to good feelings going into the first race of this year's Countdown.
"I just want to win races," Langdon said. "All of the other stuff, that's just part of the deal to me. As long as I'm out there being competitive, having a great race car, going after wins, that's really my main focus. A lot of that other stuff, I don't get too wrapped up in it.
"I try not to get wrapped up in the TV stuff or the media stuff or anything like that. I just want to drive a race car.”
On second thought, there is one fan segment that Langdon does notice.
"It definitely makes it worth it when you have young kids come up to you and say 'I want to be like you when I grow up. I want to race a top fuel car and race you one day,' and stuff like that. That kind of stuff is pretty cool because I know what it was like when I was a kid going to the racetrack and looking up to these superstars.
"It was a real treat to go through the ropes and talk to them for even a couple minutes. I try to give back, just knowing what it was like for me as a kid. There are some guys I'm still racing with today that I'm sure I have autographs from when I was a kid. It's just one of those things I every once in a while I have to pinch myself. "