Langdon, Qatar Al-Anabi clinch NHRA title

The Qatar Al-Anabi Top Fuel Team, led by driver Shawn Langdon, won the 2013 World Championship on Saturday.

Shawn Langdon with the NHRA trophy on Saturday. Photo Courtesy Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team
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Entering the final race of the season with a 102-point lead over second-place Antron Brown, Shawn Langdon of Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team clinched the 2013 NHRA World Championship on Saturday thanks to a pair of bonus points in qualifying.

Langdon, the teammate of Emirati driver Khalid Al Balooshi, earned two bonus points in qualifying at the Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California to Brown’s three, giving him the necessary 100 at the end of qualifying to make the title a wrap.

It was the first championship for Langdon and the third in four years for Qatar Al-Anabi.

“You want to clinch the title as soon as you can,” said Langdon. “There’s a lot of pressure. I’ve been in some pressure situations before in racing but nothing like this. It’s just the overall pressure of the [Coutndown to the Championship NHRA Play-offs]. It’s been a great journey, but this is all a learning experience for me. ... When I think of myself, I am still that young kid on the opposite side of the fence dreaming of one day getting the chance to do it. I hope to have the opportunity to do this again.”