Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team continues strong performance

Agencies/Kent, WashingtonThe Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the three-time and defending NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champions owned by His Excellency, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani, picked up right where it left off after a thrilling all Al-Anabi Racing final round last Sunday in Sonoma, California. Reigning World Champion Shawn Langdon is third, and last week’s winner, Khalid al-Balooshi is sixth after the first day of qualifying at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals near Seattle, the 16th of 24 races making up the United States’ NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Langdon’s silver Al-Anabi car was brilliant in the first qualifying round blistering the suburban Seattle race track with a 3.807-second effort at more than 317mph and was the No 1 qualifier after the first session.That run gave Langdon’s team a spot in the last pair of cars in the second session when racing conditions are fastest. Langdon’s car was on a dazzling run when it smoked the tires down track – just like it did in the Sonoma final round on Sunday – and Langdon aborted the run. His afternoon run was so strong, however, that it was still good enough for third quickest after the first day. “The Al-Anabi team made a really good run in the first round,” Langdon said. “We were on a great pass that probably would have given us the No 1 qualifier when it smoked the tires a little bit down track. “We were in a perfect position to go for the No 1 qualifier so we did – we just overpowered the race track a little bit. We’re in good shape for race day on Sunday, and we hope to put this silver Al-Anabi Top Fuel car in the winner’s circle on Sunday.”Khalid al-Balooshi’s gold Al-Anabi team made two solid runs on Friday. They were seventh-quickest after the first session, but they stepped it up for the evening run. Al-Balooshi’s 3.813-second pass at nearly 320 mph moved him from seventh up to third at the mid-point of the qualifying process. “I thank everyone on our team for another good day for the gold Al-Anabi team,” al-Balooshi said. “Our car was good in the first run, and Jason (crew chief Jason McCulloch) ran the car a little bit harder in the second session. We are sixth after the first day, and Shawn is third. “That is a good way to start after we won the race last week in California. I am excited to drive this car because it is a good hot rod. I hope we can win the race on Sunday.”Al-Anabi Racing operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar. In the United States, the Brownsburg, Ind.-based operation is a two-car NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series team that is managed by Alan Johnson Racing. Sheikh Khalid’s initiative has created increased international awareness of the State of Qatar while highlighting the nation’s international sports outreach. Alan Johnson is a 15-time NHRA champion in various capacities including crew chief, team owner and team manager.