Shawn Langdon ripped off the fastest pass in NHRA history on Friday, clocking 3.724 seconds at 345.00 mph in his Kalitta Air dragster at South Georgia Motorsports Park. The run put him atop the provisional No. 1 spot at the NHRA Southern Nationals and sent a new speed mark into the record book.
Langdon broke the previous record of 343.51 mph, set by Brittany Force last year in Indianapolis, and did it in the fifth of 20 races in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Tony Stewart moved to second with a 3.758-second run at 334.40 mph, while Doug Kalitta was third after going 3.762 at 334.40 mph.
For Langdon, the number was more than a line on the scoreboard. He said he was happy for the team, especially crew chief Brian Husen, after the car flashed 345 mph, and noted the group had discussed earlier testing and questions about whether the pace would hold up in competition. He said there was also something fitting about doing it at NHRA’s debut at South Georgia Motorsports Park, in front of a new crowd.
The run was not a total surprise in one sense. Langdon had already made 340-mph runs in his career and came into the season on NHRA’s Top 75 Drivers list, but Friday was the first time he put those ingredients together at a level no one in the sport had reached before. He was also on track for his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 25th of his career, a reminder that the record speed came with the kind of consistency that keeps him near the top of Top Fuel.
The rest of the opening day order was set in the other pro categories as J.R. Todd held the provisional No. 1 in Funny Car, Greg Anderson led Pro Stock and Matt Smith paced Pro Stock Motorcycle. But the day belonged to Langdon, whose run gave the event its defining moment before the weekend had even fully taken shape.