ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey: Now is a pretty good time to be a part of the Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the two-time World Championship team owned by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani.
The team boasts the hottest car in NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel Drag Racing and has two drivers moving up in the point standings; the team has already won twice this season equalling its 2012 win total in just eight races.
This weekend’s 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey is the ninth of 24 races making up the United States’ 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.
Qualifying is tomorrow and Saturday with eliminations set for Sunday.
Al-Anabi silver driver Shawn Langdon won the last race in Topeka, Kansas – it was his second win of the season and the third of his career.
Langdon has advanced to the final round of eliminations at three of the last four races and has advanced to at least the semifinals at six of the season’s eight races.
In addition, the silver Al-Anabi car has been a model of consistency responding dutifully to the tune-up changes made by team manager Alan Johnson and crew chief Brian Husen. Langdon is now and trails points leader Tony Schumacher by just 34 points.
“I’m feeling very good about how the Al-Anabi car has been running lately and how things are going,” Langdon said.
He added: “The way this Al-Anabi car has been running is exactly what Sheikh Khalid expects from the Al-Anabi team. We are excited to get back to Englishtown this weekend coming off the win in Topeka. We really feel we are capable of winning multiple races, and that’s even more incentive to get to Englishtown and get back on the race track.”
He explained: “We are a Toyota team so it would be extra-special to win this weekend’s race. As a driver, when the car is running consistently well and responding the way Alan (team manager Alan Johnson) and Brian (crew chief Brian Husen) want it to, it gives you a lot of confidence. My confidence is as high as it’s ever been.”
Second-year driver Khalid alBalooshi continues to enjoy his much-improved results over last year’s rookie season.
The Dubai native has advanced to the semifinals twice and has a total of eight round wins in eight races.
Last year, alBalooshi won his eighth round in the season’s 21st race. AlBalooshi has been an excellent qualifier this season qualifying in the top six positions at six of the season’s first eight races.
THE PENINSULA
