Langdon, Hagan, Edwards and Ray race to victories at Summernationals in Englishtown

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. – Shawn Langdon raced to his third Top Fuel victory of the season Sunday at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Michael Ray (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also were winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.

Langdon powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to his first Englishtown win with a performance of 3.853 seconds at 316.38 mph to hold off his Al-Anabi Racing teammate Khalid alBalooshi, who ran at 3.869 seconds at 297.29 mph in the final round. This was the first time the two Al-Anabi drivers raced in the final round. With the victory, Langdon takes the points lead away from U.S. Army dragster driver Tony Schumacher.

“From the first round to the final, we’ve made some really strong runs,” said Langdon of his second consecutive victory. “The run wasn’t quite as fast as we were wanting it to be. But the first Al-Anabi Racing team final between alBalooshi and me is a great way to end it.”

Hagan claimed his second Funny Car win of the season and seventh of his career by defeating reigning Mello Yello world champion and Don Schumacher racing teammate Jack Beckman in the final round.

“To come back and be this strong, thrown together at the last minute, really blows me away,” Hagan said. “Even though, we’re teammates out there you still get to poke them in the chest and get bragging rights. It was such a huge round and felt like someone handed me the ball and we made a slam dunk. We’re still learning each other and it doesn’t quite feel like an old hat, but we’re breaking her in.”

Hagan powered his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Footwear Dodge Charger to a performance of 4.112 seconds at 308.00 mph to hold off Beckman’s 4.182 second pass at 303.98 mph in his Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger. With the win, his first at Englishtown, Hagan takes over the series points lead from DSR teammate Johnny Gray.

In Pro Stock, Edwards powered his Interstate Batteries/I Am Second Chevy Camaro to his third victory of the season by defeating defending world champion Allen Johnson.

“The whole weekend was phenomenal,” said Edwards of his second career win at Englishtown. “I think we’ve saved the best for last. Hats off to all my guys. It feels good to run good and win. Hopefully, we just keep it up.”

Edwards covered the distance in 6.589 seconds at 210.21 mph to defeat Johnson’s Team Mopar Dodge Avenger, which ran 6.641 at 209.95 in the final round. With the victory, his 37th of his career, Edwards retains the series points lead.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Ray claimed his first NHRA national event win of the season and second of his career on his Team Soverign-Star Racing Buell with a holeshot victory over Lucas Oil Buell rider Hector Arana Sr. Ray’s performance of 6.954 seconds at 193.49 mph defeated Arana Sr.’s run at 6.952 seconds at 191.02 mph in the final round.

“To me the biggest thing to win was to get the [George Bryce] team back to the winner’s circle since 2008,” Ray said. “This is a dream come true. It’s a true statement to how we’re going to run in the coming months. We’re trying to get that Mello Yello championship.”

With the victory, Ray moves up to fourth in the points.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues June 14-16 with the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway.

NHRA