Shawn Langdon (far lane) set the track ET record and Morgan Lucas took the win.

Lucas breaks through, Hagan and Nobile repeat

Results compiled by Kay Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis

Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon shattered the track E.T. record to earn the No. 1 qualifier position on Saturday, Aug. 3, at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Pacific Raceways near Seattle.

Langdon powered his Al-Anabi Racing dragster to a pass of 3.765 seconds at 320.58 mph to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 10th of his career. David Grubnic ran an identical 3.765 at 317.57 during the second qualifying session on Saturday, but Langdon stayed in the top spot due to the faster speed.

Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also were No. 1 qualifiers, but none of that mattered as other drivers went on to take the wins in each class.

TOP FUEL

Seattle was the track where Morgan Lucas made his national event debut, in Super Comp in 2000, and where he made his Top Alcohol Dragster debut in 2002.

And now it's where he scored his first victory since he and wife Katie became pregnant. Katie is due to deliver a boy in mid-December.

Lucas took down the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 qualifiers en route to his first victory since Brainerd, Minn., last year.

"Realistically, to win here in front of these fans with the amazing team that I have - and the fact that this is the first win since my wife and I found out we're pregnant - is probably as cool and as big as any win I've ever had," Lucas said. "I wish my mom and dad could be here to experience it. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of my team."

The victory could not have come at a more opportune time for the GEICO/Lucas Oil team. On the heels of a final-round appearance in Sonoma, Calif., last week, Lucas is gearing up for a run at the 2013 Top Fuel championship. He's seventh in the points standings with two races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship begins.