QATAR AL-ANABI RACING TOP FUEL TEAMS QUALIFY FOR MINNESOTA ELIMINATIONS
BRAINERD, MN – Both teams that comprise the Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the two-time NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World 
Champions owned by His Excellency, Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, have qualified for eliminations in the land of 10,000 lakes – Minnesota. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is the 17th of 24 events making up the United States’ 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Qualifying resumes Saturday with eliminations set for Sunday.
Silver Al-Anabi driver Shawn Langdon struggled in the first round of qualifying and was 16th, but in the second round, the Top Fuel points leader made a fantastic pass and moved to the top of the order with a brilliant 3.797-second pass at nearly 312 mph. Later in the session, however, two drivers made better runs moving Langdon back to third.
“We missed the setup a little bit in the first round,” Langdon said. “But the Al-Anabi team made up for it in the second round – that was a great pass, and it could have been even better, but we had a couple of little issues late in the run. We have two more runs to possibly improve our position and get ready for race day so I think we’ll have a good weekend. Thanks to Sheikh Khalid and the people of Qatar for their support – I hope we can make them proud this weekend.”
Khalid alBalooshi was the No. 1 qualifier after the first round with a dazzling 3.828-second pass at nearly 321 mph in the hottest part of the afternoon. As the quickest of the first round, he was in the last pair of cars in the second round, but the gold Al-Anabi team was unable to capitalize on the coolest conditions of the weekend, and alBalooshi’s tires lost traction with the race track. After nine cars made better runs than alBalooshi, the Dubai driver finished the session in the 10th position with two rounds of qualifying remaining.
“Our team made a very good run in the first round,” alBalooshi said. “The car was very fast. In the second round, we smoked the tires so we are 10th, but I know everything will be OK. We have two more chances to make a better run and be ready to race on Sunday. I thank Sheikh Khalid for this opportunity.”
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 nation of Qatar while highlighting the nation’s international sports outreach. Alan Johnson is a 14-time NHRA champion in various capacities including crew chief, team owner and team manager. For additional information on the Al-Anabi Racing Team, team manager Alan Johnson or drivers Khalid alBalooshi or Shawn Langdon, please visit www.alanabiracing.com.
