In a consummate example of cooperation between competitors, Alan Johnson Racing driver Shawn Langdon will race the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs for Don Schumacher Racing, the teams have announced. Langdon will drive the Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant Top Fuel dragster for DSR.
Alan Johnson Racing announced Tuesday that that it would temporarily withdraw from NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series competition due to lack of primary sponsorship. Don Schumacher Racing, meanwhile, made a driver change prior to the recently-completed Chevrolet Performance NHRA U.S. Nationals. Former Alan Johnson Racing driver Khalid alBalooshi drove the Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher/Sandvik Coromant Top Fuel dragster at Indianapolis; the team finished the regular season in 11th place and did not qualify for the Countdown.
Following Tuesday’s announcement, team owners Alan Johnson and Don Schumacher negotiated a deal allowing Langdon to compete in the Countdown to the Championship Playoffs as the sixth seed. Although he remains under contract with Alan Johnson Racing, Langdon will compete as if he were the regular driver of the DSR dragster for the six-races that comprise the Countdown. When the 2015 season is complete, the Langdon will resume his duties with Alan Johnson Racing.
“It’s unfortunate that Alan Johnson Racing cannot compete for the Mello Yello championship this year,” team owner Alan Johnson said. “Our arrangement with DSR is the best for NHRA drag racing, the best for the fans, the best for Shawn, and it helps out a fellow competitor – it really should work out well for everyone involved. Sometimes, it’s good to put ‘what’s best for the sport’ ahead of everything else. I think this circumstance is one of those times.”
“Khalid helped us when we needed a driver for the U.S. Nationals and this decision is only based on Shawn having qualified for the Countdown and the world championship,” said Schumacher, who hired alBalooshi after former DSR driver Spencer Massey was released late in August. “Our NHRA fans certainly should see the 10 best drivers battle it out in the Countdown and we are excited that Shawn and our Red Fuel/Sandvik team will be in the fight.”
Said Langdon, “To start the season with Alan Johnson Racing and finish it at Don Schumacher Racing is definitely a unique situation. Everyone at AJR gave it 110 percent all season to try to contend for the championship. Thanks to Toyota for stepping up for our team in a time of need and giving us that opportunity. We can’t thank them enough, and we can’t thank the AJR crew guys enough for sticking with us. It was just unfortunate that we couldn’t find enough funding; it’s disappointing not to be able to finish the season.
“After everything happened, there was an opportunity to race with Don Schumacher Racing to finish the season. It’s a unique opportunity, but I think it’s a good fit for everyone at DSR as well as for Alan and me. I am still under contract with Alan Johnson Racing, and we are still working towards getting our team back together in 2016. But for the next six races, I’ll be driving for Don Schumacher Racing and competing for a championship. It’s great for the fans to be able to have 10 cars competing for the Mello Yello championship, it’s good for NHRA, and at this point, I think it’s good for everybody.”
