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After having posted two wins this season and equaling its 2012 points in just eight races, Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the two-time World Championship team owned by HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani, is looking forward to this weekend’s 44th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown, New Jersey. This is the ninth of 24 races making up the US’ 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. |
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 semi-finals 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 second in points tally and trails 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. “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. We are a Toyota team so it would be extra-special to win this weekend’s race. My confidence is as high as it’s ever been.”
Second-year driver Khalid al-Balooshi continues to enjoy his much-improved results over last year’s rookie season. The Dubai native has advanced to the semi-finals twice and has a total of eight round wins in eight races. Last year, al-Balooshi won his eighth round in the season’s 21st race. In addition, al-Balooshi has been an excellent qualifier this season qualifying in the top six positions at six of the season’s first eight races. Al-Balooshi is sixth in points but now trails fifth place by just 25 points.
“We are ready to race this week in New Jersey,” al-Balooshi said. “Everybody had some rest since our last race, and I know our team is excited to race this weekend.
“Shawn’s team won the last race, and our team is getting better and better each week. I am proud of the Al-Anabi team and what we have done this year. I am happy with our season so far because we are much better than we were last year, but I know we can do better. Jason (crew chief Jason McCulloch) knows we can do better, and everybody on our team knows we can do better.”