None of the professional racers that experienced six days of rain delays at the season-opening race in Pomona, Calif., had much fun, but for rookie driver Shawn Langdon, the shortage of racing action was almost unbearable.

"You dream your whole life about turning pro and driving a Top Fuel dragster," said Langdon, the back-to-back Lucas Oil Series world champ in Super Comp. "Then you finally get that chance and the lead up to that first race is so emotional. I was really excited and pretty nervous before the race. I couldn't sleep. You just want to do everything right for your team. Then you finally get to the track and all that anticipation is literally washed away by the rain. It was tough for me to take."

The lack of racing in southern California -- Langdon made just two passes in his Lucas Oil/Dixie Choppers dragster -- has the 26-year-old revved up for NHRA's second stop in Phoenix. That and the fact he tested at Firebird International Raceway just a few weeks ago and that his main sponsor, Lucas Oil, took over title rights for the race a few days back through its Lucas Oil Slick Mist brand. None of the professional racers that experienced six days of rain delays at the season-opening race in Pomona, Calif., had much fun, but for rookie driver Shawn Langdon, the shortage of racing action was almost unbearable.

"You dream your whole life about turning pro and driving a Top Fuel dragster," said Langdon, the back-to-back Lucas Oil Series world champ in Super Comp. "Then you finally get that chance and the lead up to that first race is so emotional. I was really excited and pretty nervous before the race. I couldn't sleep. You just want to do everything right for your team. Then you finally get to the track and all that anticipation is literally washed away by the rain. It was tough for me to take."

The lack of racing in southern California -- Langdon made just two passes in his Lucas Oil/Dixie Choppers dragster -- has the 26-year-old revved up for NHRA's second stop in Phoenix. That and the fact he tested at Firebird International Raceway just a few weeks ago and that his main sponsor, Lucas Oil, took over title rights for the race a few days back through its Lucas Oil Slick Mist brand.

"It's going to be a big weekend for all of us associated with Lucas Oil," Langdon said. "The fact we took over naming rights to the race makes it even more important for everyone on the team. It would mean the world to me to have a big outing at a race that Forrest and Charlotte Lucas sponsor. They've done so much for me.

"Of course, I'm just flat-out excited to get back in the car and make some passes. We made about 12 passes during testing at Firebird so I know that track better than any other one out there as far as running a Top Fuel car goes so that makes it a lot more comfortable for me.

"During all that rain and ever since then I've made hundreds of passes in my mind and when I do that I'm always at the Phoenix track, because that's where it all started for me. It's the track I have stuck in my head."

Prior to the event, Langdon and his Lucas Oil Racing teammate Morgan Lucas, will rev up Phoenix fans at the Craftsman Court in Old Town Scottsdale for a giant prerace Fan Fest.

"The only good thing about the rain in Pomona was it gave us all more time to hang with the fans, which was cool," Langdon said. "This deal in Old Town Scottsdale is going to be huge. They've got tickets to give away and some hot rods on display. Hopefully, lots of people will come out and party with us and get the weekend kicked off right."