PHOENIX – As Shawn Langdon sat in his Al-Anabi Top Fuel dragster before Friday's second qualifying session of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway, he figured a 3.78-second run would be a solid effort.
But as he caught a glimpse of the numbers as he whistled past the scoreboard at the end of his 1,000-foot run, Langdon's eyes widened.
"I was very shocked," Langdon said. "Not to take anything from the guys. I wouldn't put it past them to run a 3.75, (but) I definitely wasn't expecting it.
"Sitting in the car, I was really thinking, 'Man, if we could go 3.78, 3.79 right now, that would be good. It would put us in a good position for tomorrow, put us in the top part of the qualifying order. To see a 3.75, that's just a phenomenal run right now. I don't think there's much left on that in it. They used up everything they could on that."
Langdon's pass of 3.754 seconds at 323.12 mph was the fifth-fastest run ever in a Top Fuel car and easily eclipsed Langdon's career best. Of course, this is his first season with the powerful Al-Anabi Racing team.
"It's a great team to be a part of," Langdon said. "I'm very fortunate to be in the ride. It just shows how good (crew chief) Brian (Husen) and (team manager) Alan (Johnson) are. They make the right calls at the right time. That's how this sport is.
"Obviously, this year, with everyone running fast, 3.70s, 3.79s, to pop off a 3.75 like that is a good feeling. I'm just proud to show off their effort they put on back in the pits."
Langdon has one No. 1 qualifier in his career, scored at Las Vegas in 2009, so posting the best qualifying speed isn't necessarily his main focus.
"I really want my first win," Langdon said. "Going with a 3.75 like that, I like my chances. It's going to be a tough year, obviously, with everyone. There are a lot of good teams, a lot of good cars this year. But if we can keep running those 3.75s, I like our chances."
Tony Schumacher was the provisional No. 2 with a run of 3.783 seconds at 324.44 mph, with Steve Torrence third at 3.788 at 321.19 mph.
Johnny Gray topped the Funny Car chart after two sessions with a wild ride in Q2. His pass of 4.074 seconds at 298.93 mph was the best among 20 Funny Cars, but it could've been quicker.
"I actually had to shut the car off before the finish line because it was getting so close to the wall," Gray said. "I was fixing to get in trouble. We'll see what happens here tomorrow. If I can hold it in the middle, it ought to be fast."
Jim Head laid down a lap of 4.107 seconds at 297.29 mph as the first car out in the first qualifying session, and it held up for the provisional No. 2. Bob Tasca III (4.134 at 307.72 mph) was third.
Jason Line visited the Firebird media center as the Pro Stock provisional No. 1 after upping his class-best Q1 pass with a run of 6.553 seconds at 210.77 mph in the second session.
"It's good, but it won't stand," Line said. "Somebody's going to go faster. There are several cars that haven't made the kind of runs their capable of making, including ours. Tomorrow's definitely going to be faster.
"But it feels great to actually be in the tower. I forgot that I'd ever been up here before. I like to visit all the towers at all the tracks. That means you're having a good day."
Mike Edwards (6.557 at 211.13) was second and Ronnie Humphrey (6.557 at 210.64 mph) was third.
