Some memories are just too good to forget.

For Top Fuel rookie Shawn Langdon, rekindling the memory of the last time he raced at Bandimere Speedway seems appropriate with this weekend’s NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals.

He first became a champion at Bandimere.
Top Fuel Rookie First Became A Champion Up On The Mountain …

Some memories are just too good to forget.

For Top Fuel rookie Shawn Langdon, rekindling the memory of the last time he raced at Bandimere Speedway seems appropriate with this weekend’s NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals.

He first became a champion at Bandimere.

Back then, Langdon was racing Junior Dragster and has since worked his way to a nitro-guzzling, flame-belching Top Fuel dragster. Through the years, he's never forgotten climbing to the top of the mountain.

"I have nothing but great memories of Bandimere," said Langdon, a candidate for the NHRA’s Rookie of the Year award. "Winning that Junior Dragster Championship back in 1997 was such a big deal for me. Here's this 14-year-old kid from Southern California racing all the best juniors in the country and I end up winning the title. If I hadn't already been hooked on the sport, that weekend would have done it for me. It was special, and I remember it like it was yesterday."

Langdon has since added a pair of NHRA Super Comp world championships to his resume and while the only true nitro racing rookie faces a tougher challenge this time around, he’s attacking the mountain head on.

He’s proven very adept at turning on win lights with five semifinal finishes and a No. 1 qualifier with the season only half complete. The only goal missing is that first Top Fuel win.

"Our car's been running good all year," Langdon said. "We're just waiting for things to fall our way. A lot of teams went out and tested after Norwalk but we feel like all we need to do is keep up what we're doing and be patient. Our time will come; there's no doubt about that.”

Advertisement