Shawn Langdon’s record setting run of 345.00 mph at the Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park – Motorsport America Photo
It was a record setting weekend at South Georgia Motorsports Park as Shawn Langdon broke the world record and Maddie Gordon became the 2nd woman and the 4th person in history to break the 340-mph barrier during the debut event held in Adel, Georgia
by Derek Jackson
The Wally Trophy celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHRA!Racing Legend Tony Stewart was on hand signing autographs for a drag racing fan!Antron Brown’s garage, as the Four-Time NHRA Top Fuel Champion prepares for competition.Tony Schumacher’s Top Fuel Dragster awaits competition in the South Georgia Motorsports Park garage.Drag Racing Fans Tall Paul and Crew.Race Crews and Officials await the completion of track drying operations at South Georgia Motorsports Park.Motorsport America photographer Doug Lewis gets a view of the NHRA Track in Adel, Georgia.Track Drying operations are underway at the NHRA Southern Nationals in Valdosta, GeorgiaPro-Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith inspects the track.Matt Smith gives an update to wife Angie, as Jianna Evaristo listens in.Angie Smith faces off against Chase Van Sant in the Q1 Round. Angie won the race with a speed of 200.65 vs Van Sant’s 199.35Jianna Evaristo facing off against Ryan Oehler. Jianna won the Q1 round with an ET of 6.778 vs Oehler’s 6.828Riding the Powertrain, Inc black Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle for Flyin’ Ryan Racing, is fan favorite Brayden Davis of Douglas, Georgia in the far lane taking on Kelly Clontz in the White Suzuki. Brayden Davis took the Q1 Round with an ET of 6.830 at a speed of 198.93 mph.Riding the American Rebel Light Beer sponsored Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle is John Hall, who was having last minute problems during staging with his bike.Clayton Howey taking on John Hall in the Q1 Round as he and NHRA Officials await Hall making last minute adjustments to his bike.Clayton Howey with a good clean pass. Hall’s bike with problems as he is staging and he will not make a pass here.Pro Stock Motorcycle Champion Gaige Herrara preps his bike before his run against rival Richard Gadson.Boasting 5 National Championships across various series and categories, Richard Gadson has solidified his reputation as one of the most versatile riders in the field.Gaige Herrera was straight down the groove with a good clean pass with an ET of 6.723 at 200.23 mph.Pro Stock Driver Kenny Delco does a burnout at the Southern Nationals!NHRA Pro Stock Driver Troy Coughlin, Jr.NHRA Pro Stock Driver Cody Anderson.Jeg Coughlin, Jr faces off against Eric Latino in Pro Stock Q1 action. Jeg took the round with an ET of 6.547 at 210.57 mph.Erica Enders faces off against Aaron Stanfield in the battle of Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Pro Stock shootout. Aaron Stanfield took the Q1 round against the Six-Time Pro Stock Champion with an ET 6.525 of at 210.60 mph.Matt Latino’s burnout at the Southern Nationals!Cody Coughlin vs Gatornationals & Charlotte 4-Wide Champion Matt Hartford at the Southern NationalsSpencer Hyde in the near lane vs Jack Beckman in Q1 Funny Car action. Storm clouds fill the Southern Nationals sky, signaling some much-needed rain to South Georgia, but also a lengthy delay to Saturday’s racing at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Jack Beckman lost traction right at the hit and clicked it off. Spencer Hyde kept it hooked up and was straight down the groove to the number three spot.Cruz Pedregon’s crew makes last minute adjustments to his Snap-On Tools dragster before facing off against Ford Racing’s Austin Prock.Ford Racing’s Austin Prock’s burnout before the Q1 challenge against Cruz Pedregon.Cruz Pedregon before facing off against Ford Racing’s Austin Prock in the rain delayed event.Prock launched hard, but lost traction early and clicked it off. Pedregon with a good clean pass until on the top end when it spun the tires. Cruz won the round with an ET of 3.948 at 307.16 mph.Hunter Green in the far lane vs Jeff Arend as they make last minute adjustments to their Funny Cars in the Q1 Round at the Southern NationalsHunter Green wins the round with an ET of 3.958 at 322.65 mph.Daniel Wilkerson prepares to face off against Dave Richards in the Q1 round.Dave Richards burnout in Adel, GA at the Southern Nationals. Richards rattled the tires early and clicked it off. Wilkerson is up in smoke right at the hit. Richards is credited with the win with an ET of 8.499 at 79.32 mph.Spencer Hyde in the far lane vs. Jack Beckman at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Q1 action. Beckman lost traction right at the hit and clicked it off. Hyde kept it hooked up and was straight down the groove to the number three spot.Jordan Vandergriff in the far lane driving the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevy vs Alexis DeJoria driving the Bandero Cafe Tequila Chevrolet. DeJoria launched hard and then lost traction, the car was sideways before she got it clicked off. Vandergriff was straight down the groove to the number one spot. Jordan Vandergriff ran an ET of 3.924 at 325.14 mph.DHL’s J.R. Todd at the Southern Nationals.J.R. Todd vs Chad Green at the Southern Nationals. Green was up in smoke and clicked it off. Todd kept it hooked up and hitting on all eight to go to the number one spot. He makes his career fastest pass. J.R. Todd ran an ET of 3.887 at 339.28 mph.Ron Capps Top Fuel Funny Car at the Southern Nationals in Adel, GA.
Ron Capps vs Matt Hagan in the American Rebel Light Beer Funny Car after their burnout. Hagan is up in smoke early and clicked it off. Capps started to haze the tires around the 1/8-mile mark and clicked it off.Alexis DeJoria reached the Final Round at the 2026 season opener in Gainesville at the Gatornationals.Jordan Vandergriff hails from Atlanta, GA.Shawn Langdon’s burnout in Adel, GA at the Southern Nationals.Shawn Langdon facing off against Tony Schumacher in Q2 action. Schumacher started to lose traction and clicked it off early. Langdon launched hard and kept it hooked up to make the fastest pass in NHRA history. He goes to the number one spot. Shawn Langdon ran an ET of 3.724 at 345.00 mph!Shawn Langdon’s record setting run of 3.724 ET and 345.00 mph at South Georgia Motorsports Park sent shockwaves across the racing world and promptly put the Southern Nationals on the map!Doug Kalitta ran an ET of 3.762 at 334.40 mph against Clay Millican in the Q2 round.Racing Legend Tony Stewart’s burnout at the Southern Nationals as he prepares to face Justin Ashley in the Q1 round.Justin Ashley starts to lose traction and clicked it off. Stewart was on a good pass until on the top end it started to drop cylinders. He goes to the number two spot. Tony Stewart ran at ET of 3.758 at 334.40 mph.21-year-old NHRA Rookie Maddie Gordon awaits her turn at the South Georgia Motorsports track, as she surveys the competition.John Force Racing’s Josh Hart prepares to face-off against NHRA Rookie Maddie Gordan in Q1 action.Carlyle Tools Maddie Gordan. Hart started to haze the tires after half-track and clicked it off. Gordon kept it hooked up and hitting on all eight to go to the number one spot. Maddi Gordon ran an ET of 3.775 at 329.75 mph.Maddie Gordon facing off against four-time world champion Antron Brown in Q3 action.Maddie Gordon becomes the 2nd woman to pass the 340-mph barrier and the 4th driver overall to belong to the exclusive club!21-year-old Maddie Gordon is interviewed on NHRA.TV on her accomplishment. Gordon posted one of the fastest qualifying sessions in NHRA history at the rain delayed Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park. Gordon threw out the first pitch at the Braves game the other night, making for a memorable week for the young driver.It’s a Husband vs. Wife shootout, as Tony Stewart takes on Leah Pruett in the Q1 round. Stewart started to lose traction and clicked it off. Pruett is up in smoke right at the hit and clicked it off. Stewart was credited with the win with an ET of 5.043 at 138.46 mph.It’s Shawn Reed vs. Tony Schumacher in Q1 action. Reed starts to lose traction and clicked it off. Schumacher is up in smoke right at this hit and clicked it off. Reed was credited with the win with an ET of 5.770 at 122.96 mph.It’s Antron Brown in the Matco Tools sponsored car vs. Clay Millican driving for Parts Plus. Brown won the round with an ET of 3.896 at 316.97 mph.Doug Kalitta driving for MAC Tools vs Shawn Landgon driving for Kalitta Air. Langdon is up in smoke early and clicked it off. Kalitta is also up in smoke and clicks it off. Kalitta was credited with the win with an ET of 6.323 vs Langdon’s 6.453Shawn Langdon signs an autograph for a fan of SGMP, signifying his 345-mph record setting run.Tony Schumacher flashes a big smile at our camera and says stay tuned for more coverage of the NHRA Southern Nationals in Adel, Georgia from Motorsport America!
