Shawn Langdon Makes History with Record-Breaking 345 MPH Pass
Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon has etched his name into the history books by setting a new all-time NHRA speed record on Friday, May 1, 2026.
The monumental achievement occurred during the opening day of the NHRA Southern Nationals, marking a historic debut for the series at the South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, Georgia.
Langdon, driving the Kalitta Air dragster, reached a staggering speed of 345.00 mph, completing the 1,000-foot run in just 3.724 seconds.
This performance secured Langdon the provisional No. 1 qualifying spot and officially surpassed the previous national speed record of 343.51 mph.
Breaking a Long-Standing Benchmark
The previous speed record had been held by Brittany Force, who established the 343.51 mph mark during the 2025 season in Indianapolis.
Langdon’s pass at the Southern Nationals represents the fifth event of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Key highlights of Langdon’s record-breaking run include:
- Official Speed: 345.00 mph
- Elapsed Time: 3.724 seconds
- Previous Record: 343.51 mph (Brittany Force, 2025)
- Career Milestone: Potential 25th No. 1 qualifier of his career
Validating Performance from Preseason Testing
According to Langdon, the team had already witnessed high-speed potential during preseason testing, though some remained skeptical of those early numbers.
Crew chief Brian Husen and the team were determined to prove that the off-season speeds were legitimate by repeating the feat during official competition.
Langdon noted that seeing the 345 mph figure pop up on the scoreboard was a special moment for the entire crew after their dedicated hard work.
Top Fuel Qualifying Standings
While Langdon dominated the headlines, several other top contenders posted impressive times during the Friday qualifying sessions at the new Georgia venue.
Tony Stewart and Doug Kalitta followed closely in the rankings, making the Top Fuel category highly competitive heading into the weekend.
| Rank | Driver | Time (ET) | Speed (MPH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shawn Langdon | 3.724 | 345.00 |
| 2 | Tony Stewart | 3.758 | 334.40 |
| 3 | Doug Kalitta | 3.762 | 334.40 |
Driver Insights on the New Track
The inaugural event at South Georgia Motorsports Park provided a fresh surface for the drivers, which Langdon described as having a "good run" feel.
He admitted that while the speed was historic, the physical sensation from inside the cockpit is subtle because drivers often don’t notice the exact mile per hour increase.
Performing in front of a new fan base at this location added to the significance of setting the record on the track’s first major national stage.
Success Across Other NHRA Categories
The Southern Nationals also saw high-performance benchmarks across the Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle divisions.
J.R. Todd led the Funny Car field, delivering the quickest pass of the year so far with a time of 3.887 seconds at 339.28 mph in his DHL Toyota GR Supra.
Key performances in other classes included:
- Funny Car: J.R. Todd (3.887s at 339.28 mph)
- Pro Stock: Greg Anderson (6.498s at 210.60 mph)
- Pro Stock Motorcycle: Matt Smith (6.669s at 203.03 mph)
Greg Anderson Dominates Pro Stock
Six-time champion Greg Anderson was the only driver in the Pro Stock class to reach the 6.40-second range during the Friday sessions.
Anderson acknowledged that the air conditions were excellent for making power, leading some teams to be perhaps too aggressive with their setups.
He indicated that small adjustments would be necessary for the following day to maintain his pursuit of a 144th career No. 1 qualifier.
Pro Stock Motorcycle and Future Outlook
Matt Smith made a stellar debut at the venue, recording the first 6.60-second pass of the 2026 season for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category.
Smith’s time of 6.669 seconds at 203.03 mph puts him in a strong position for his 61st career top qualifying position.
Qualifying is scheduled to continue at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, with final eliminations determining the winners of the fifth NHRA event results of the season.
As the competition progresses, the field remains focused on chasing the new standard set by Langdon’s Top Fuel drag racing record pass.
