Shawn Langdon set for Pomona II

After back-to-back finals in Pomona, Langdon looking to close the deal

Shawn Langdon

Photo by: Ted Rossino

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 8) – A solid performance at this weekend's Auto Club NHRA Finals is crucial for Shawn Langdon and the Lucas Oil/Speedco Top Fuel dragster team on several levels.

The Lucas Oil team is already locked into a ninth-place season finish, but Langdon said a deep run at the birthplace of drag racing will do a lot to make the off season a little shorter.

"There's not a lot of championship pressure on us, but there is a lot riding on this last race," Langdon said. "I'd like to see us spoil the day of someone fighting for the championship.

"I want to end the year on a good note for us. It would get the guys spirits' up for the offseason and end the year for us with some momentum. It keeps everyone positive through the off season."

Langdon is hoping to extend his string of recent success as Auto Club Raceway.

"The last two races we've been there we've made the finals," Langdon said. "I would be really, really nice to make that final step and get our first win this time. I want to finish out what we couldn't get done the last couple of years."

Langdon lost to Tony Schumacher in last year's Auto Club Finals championship round and to teammate Morgan Lucas in the finals of the Winternationals in February.

"It's a home track for me," Langdon said. "My family and a lot of friends are going to be out there as are a lot of people from Lucas Oil. So a good race is always important."

Langdon said he's not looking forward to a long, cold winter without racing.

"It's getting toward the end of the year and I'm trying to get in as much racing as I can before the winter," Langdon said. "I'm getting my fix in."