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Racing at an altitude of more than a mile is never easy, but the two-time NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champions owned by HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani, are off to a brilliant start at the 34th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals just outside Denver, the 15th of 24 events making up the US’ 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. |
Dubai driver Khalid al-Balooshi enters this weekend’s race fresh off his win in Ohio one race ago; he is second after the first day of qualifying. Al-Balooshi posted a solid run in the first session with a 4.018-second pass at more than 312 mph and was fifth after the first round. In the evening session, with his teammate in the opposite lane, al-Balooshi dazzled the crowd with a 3.924-second effort at nearly 314 mph.
“Denver is very tricky for everyone,” al-Balooshi said. “A lot of teams are having a hard time, but for our team, I think we started right where we left off when we were in Ohio two weeks ago with our car running very well. We made a good run in the first round, and when we ran that 3.92 tonight, I was very happy. Things are good for our team right now, and I am very excited about that.”
On the silver side of the Al-Anabi pit area, Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon made a fantastic run in the first round of qualifying and was No 1 with a 3.935-second pass at more than 315 mph. With the cooler conditions Friday night, the cars were able to run quicker. Langdon’s car experienced engine problems early it the run, and he was unable to improve on his first run of the day. Langdon is fourth on the strength of his first qualifying attempt. Doug Kalitta is the No 1 qualifier at the mid-point of qualifying.
“Our first run was just about perfect, but we really wanted to get that No 1 position in the night session,” Langdon said.
“Here in Denver, the altitude is so high that the cars can’t run as fast as they do closer to sea level, and to make just about a perfect run the first time down the race track was a great way to start the weekend. We had some engine problems in the second round, but we are fourth after the first day so we’re in good shape.
“Both cars are good positions so we hope it will be another great weekend for the Al-Anabi team.”