Shawn Langdon is a beast on the 1,000-foot drag racing surface 24-times a season while driving the Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragster. Next month the defending NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champion will take to the 1,000-foot race course in a different arena during the upcoming K&N Spring Fling 5 Day race held at Bristol Dragway in Tenn.

Because the K&N Spring Fling 5 Day is held May 14-18,  the same weekend as the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, roughly 250 miles south of Bristol at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia, Langdon will compete in both events. Langdon will race Wednesday and Thursday in Bristol and then head to Commerce on Friday.

Langdon is an accomplished Top Fuel driver but is largely unpublicized is his background in bracket racing. He grew up with his father, Chad, while racing around the drag strips in southern California. In addition to his championship last year, Langdon is also the 2007 and 2008 Super Comp world champion as well as a Jr. Dragster champion in the 14-year old division in 1997. Last year on his way to the championship, he raced to seven Top Fuel titles in the Mello Yello Series as well as seven No. 1 qualifying positions and the $100,000 Traxxas Nitro Shootout. But bracket racing has a special place in his heart.
 
“My roots are still in bracket racing," explained Langdon. "The friendships I have there are priceless and I’m looking forward to running the Spring Fling this year. My good friend Kyle [Seipel-co-promoter of the Spring Fling] says racing is always about the stories and the stories from the ‘Fling last forever.”
 
With several high dollar bracket racing wins also to his credit, Langdon has tried to make a habit of competing at the ‘Fling series of events both in Bristol and Las Vegas. Still with no ‘Fling trophy though to add to his credits, when racing begins in Bristol on Wednesday, the same seriousness he displays behind the wheel of his Top Fuel ride, will be on his face as he competes against over 500 of the best bracket racers in the country.
 
This year’s K&N Spring Fling 5 Day marks the fifth anniversary for the race which has continued to not only pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in race winnings, but over $40,000 in prizes and awards is also up for grabs to random racers. But the event has also placed a premium on fun, which is just part of its allure.