Langdon, Coughlin clinch 2013 championships

Results compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Tim Marshall

Although the Funny Car and Pro Stock Motorcycle championships were already claimed, there was some suspense left as the 2013 Top Fuel and Pro Stock championships were played out over Saturday and Sunday at the NHRA Finals.

Shawn Langdon secured the TF title on Nov. 9 by qualifying second in the 16-car Top Fuel field. His closest challenger, defending series champ Antron Brown, qualified fifth overall, giving Langdon an insurmountable 104-point lead with only a maximum of 100 points available on Sunday.

“You want to clinch the title as soon as you can,” Langdon said. “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 Countdown. It’s been a great journey, but this is all a learning experience for me.”

Jeg Coughlin Jr. had to wait until Nov. 10, getting the Pro Stock championship when Jason Line lost in Sunday's second round.
 Coughlin became just the eighth driver in NHRA history to win a fifth professional championship, as he earned previous Pro Stock titles in 2000, 2002, 2007 and 2008.

"This championship is extremely special to us, without question," Coughlin said. "When I stepped away from professional racing at the end of 2010, I honestly wasn't real sure how quickly I'd get back in the seat. But shortly thereafter, we put a great program together with our friends at Mopar to run a Dodge Avenger for the '12, '13 and '14 seasons.

"We didn't rest too long. We transitioned to racing with Allen and Roy Johnson and the J&J horsepower they make and it's been a great relationship."

Coughlin was in the next pair behind Line in the second round, so he knew he had clinched the title before he raced teammate Allen Johnson. Maybe because of that thrill, Coughlin tripped the starting beam -.001 seconds too soon, giving Johnson the round win.