POMONA, Calif. (AP) — Shawn Langdon moved into position to wrap up his first Top Fuel season championship as early as Saturday, leading qualifying Friday in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals.
Langdon opened a 104-point lead over defending champ Antron Brown and will take the title if he holds a lead of 100 points or more at the end of qualifying Saturday.
Langdon gained a point when he powered his dragster to a 3.750-second run at 327.03 mph to maintain the top spot in the qualifying order. Brown was second again with a 3.775 at 322.42.
John Force, the 64-year-old star who wrapped up his 16th Funny Car title in the last event in Las Vegas, also topped qualifying along with Mike Edwards in Pro Stock and Hector Arana Jr. in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
