Enter Connie Kalitta and Jim Oberhofer, who called Langdon prior to the Houston race and offered him a ride in a third Top Fuel dragster for the legendary, family-owned team.
“To get a phone call from Jim and the Kalitta team … I was just very appreciative that they would even consider me for a ride. The whole camp over there; their resume speaks for itself. They’re very accomplished, and hopefully I can bring a little bit driving-wise to the team … where we can hopefully bring a Top Fuel championship back to Michigan for all of them.”
Though he qualified 10th and was knocked out by Bob Vandergriff in an opening round photo finish last week in Houston, Langdon enters Charlotte brimming with optimism, both for his newfound home and because of the track he’s competing at this weekend.
After all, zMAX is where he got his first-career Top Fuel win in the fall of 2012, and he won the Four-Wide Nationals back-to-back in 2013 and again in 2014.
But most importantly, Langdon comes in riding a tide that is back on the way up, just five months after it looked as though his driving career in the sport might have run its course.
“I’ve always said, from day one, that in this sport you have to ride the waves,” he explained. “You’re going to experience the highs and the lows. I’ve always been a believer that when you’re on the high wave, you don’t go out there and gloat about it; appreciate what you have. (When you’re) on the low part of it, you just work your (tail) off even harder.”
“Having the time off that I did … experiencing that fear of the unknown, so to speak … makes you appreciate that next opportunity and pushes you to take advantage of the situation. I’ve worked hard and I haven’t given up. That’s why I’m so thankful that I’m where I am today.”
Langdon’s Global Electronic Technology Top Fuel dragster is being co-tuned by Rob Flynn and team owner Connie Kalitta himself.
That’s something that the 34-year-old is not only appreciative of, but also said will make his first win with the Kalitta team extra special when it comes.
“Connie’s awesome,” Langdon laughed. “The thing I like most about him is that from the first phone call I got when the deal came together, and he called me to welcome me to the team, was how excited he was. At his age and with all the stuff that he’s been through, to be that excited and to have him say ‘I’m happy you’re here and I’m happy I’m tuning your car’ … for me, that’s insane. The guy’s a legend. It’s very humbling for me, but very cool, too.”
“With all that said, I really feel like this team is a good fit for me … because of how I view myself as a racer and the competitiveness I have as a racer. Those guys want to go out and win championships. I love what I do and it’s what I enjoy, but at the end of the day, you want to be able to go out and be competitive at the top level. Connie is the same way.”
“That gives me a lot of motivation to go out and be better each week; to strive to be the best.”
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: news@racechaseronline.com
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