Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago
🏁 Shawn Langdon continued his championship-caliber season Friday by leading Top Fuel qualifying at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.
Langdon's 3.758-second blast at 336.23 mph in the Kalitta Air dragster paced the field as NHRA's long-awaited arrival in Maryland officially became reality. Teammate Doug Kalitta qualified second, while Tony Stewart rounded out the Top Fuel top three.
Joining Langdon atop the provisional qualifying sheets were Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock, and Angie Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Pedregon earned his first provisional No. 1 position of the season with a 3.951-second run after a difficult start to the year. Anderson took advantage of ideal sea-level conditions to post the only 6.49-second run of the session in Pro Stock.
But while Langdon led the quickest category, Friday's most emotional moment belonged to Angie Smith.
Less than 24 hours after husband and team owner Matt Smith was hospitalized and ruled out for the weekend, Angie responded with a career-best 6.690-second pass at 202.97 mph to lead Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying. With Matt tuning remotely from the hospital and Chip Ellis filling in on Matt's motorcycle, the Smith Racing team delivered one of the most inspiring performances of the season.
🎥 In this video:
✅ Shawn Langdon leads Top Fuel qualifying
✅ Cruz Pedregon grabs Funny Car No. 1
✅ Greg Anderson tops Pro Stock
✅ Angie Smith posts career-best run
✅ Matt Smith Racing overcomes adversity
✅ Highlights from the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals
The first NHRA national event ever held at Maryland International Raceway is off to a memorable start.
For the latest NHRA news, features, and race coverage, visit CompetitionPlus.com.
HASHTAGS
#NHRA #PotomacNationals #ShawnLangdon #TopFuel #AngieSmith #FunnyCar #ProStock #ProStockMotorcycle #GregAnderson #CruzPedregon #MattSmith #KalittaMotorsports #MarylandInternationalRaceway #DragRacing #NHRADragRacing #CompetitionPlus #PEAKSquad #RaceStrange
🏁 Shawn Langdon continued his championship-caliber season Friday by leading Top Fuel qualifying at the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.
Langdon's 3.758-second blast at 336.23 mph in the Kalitta Air dragster paced the field as NHRA's long-awaited arrival in Maryland officially became reality. Teammate Doug Kalitta qualified second, while Tony Stewart rounded out the Top Fuel top three.
Joining Langdon atop the provisional qualifying sheets were Cruz Pedregon in Funny Car, Greg Anderson in Pro Stock, and Angie Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Pedregon earned his first provisional No. 1 position of the season with a 3.951-second run after a difficult start to the year. Anderson took advantage of ideal sea-level conditions to post the only 6.49-second run of the session in Pro Stock.
But while Langdon led the quickest category, Friday's most emotional moment belonged to Angie Smith.
Less than 24 hours after husband and team owner Matt Smith was hospitalized and ruled out for the weekend, Angie responded with a career-best 6.690-second pass at 202.97 mph to lead Pro Stock Motorcycle qualifying. With Matt tuning remotely from the hospital and Chip Ellis filling in on Matt's motorcycle, the Smith Racing team delivered one of the most inspiring performances of the season.
🎥 In this video:
✅ Shawn Langdon leads Top Fuel qualifying
✅ Cruz Pedregon grabs Funny Car No. 1
✅ Greg Anderson tops Pro Stock
✅ Angie Smith posts career-best run
✅ Matt Smith Racing overcomes adversity
✅ Highlights from the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals
The first NHRA national event ever held at Maryland International Raceway is off to a memorable start.
For the latest NHRA news, features, and race coverage, visit CompetitionPlus.com.
HASHTAGS
#NHRA #PotomacNationals #ShawnLangdon #TopFuel #AngieSmith #FunnyCar #ProStock #ProStockMotorcycle #GregAnderson #CruzPedregon #MattSmith #KalittaMotorsports #MarylandInternationalRaceway #DragRacing #NHRADragRacing #CompetitionPlus #PEAKSquad #RaceStrange
