Qatar Racing Club

Al-Balooshi Still Aiming High After Getting Second Win In Qatar

DOHA, QATAR (January 13, 2011) – Khalid Al-Balooshi had an excited tone in his voice last week after picking up his second win in four races in the Arabian Drag Racing League.

But it was also obvious that Al-Balooshi and his Speedtech team aren’t nearly content heading into Thursday’s Round Five at Qatar Racing Club (QRC).

"We have laid down some solid runs over these last four races, but we really need to pick it up,” tuner Brandon Switzer. “There are a lot of tough Pro Nitrous teams over here and everyone has had about five weeks worth of testing and racing on the same track, which means it is only going to get harder to qualify and win rounds from here on out."

Al-Balooshi and his team had their toughest challenge last week during testing before Round Four.

After going 3.88 at nearly 193 miles per hour in testing, Al-Balooshi’s Camaro was engulfed in flames at the starting line just before it was supposed to make one last test run.

But the staff and track crew were immediately on it, putting the fire out in less than 30 seconds. The quick response was surely appreciated by Al-Balooshi and his team, and it also was key in the car not getting damaged and being able to run the next day.

"Everyone from Team Speedtech wants to thank the staff and track crew for doing such an awesome job last week on getting the fire we had last out so quick,” Al-Balooshi said. “If it wasn't for them we still would not have a car to race this weekend. We really can’t thank everyone enough for getting to the fire so quick.”

Al-Balooshi took advantage of the opportunity to race, going 3.88 to finish second in qualifying.

His 3.84 in the first round was the best run of the day, and he followed that with a 3.86 in a red-light win against Shannon Jenkins before going 194 mph in the finals.

Al-Balooshi went 3.86 in the finals on Friday, knocking off Khaled Mohamed.

After what the team overcame, it made the win that much sweeter.

“Everybody has worked hard to get this done and I’m very happy with my team. They’re doing an awesome job,” Al-Balooshi said. “Everybody in this class is running fast, just like it is in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL).

“But everybody who works on this team has put me in a beautiful car. This race we weren’t looking at running fast, but hopefully we will be perfect before the season ends.”

That’s where the not staying content has come into play.

Al-Balooshi can look around and see the talented field, and he knows he can’t stand pat.

The team is shooting for the low 3.8s for the final four races of the season, which would likely be enough to keep Al-Balooshi in the points lead heading into the final race of the season.

"We had a great race last weekend,” Al-Balooshi said. “My team has been working very hard this week to try and squeeze every bit of ET and MPH out of each run as we can. I want to thank all of them for working so hard and giving me such a good car each week.

“Hopefully we can make the car even faster before the end of the season.”

Matt Smith Excelling In Two Classes At QRC

DOHA, QATAR (January 12, 2011) – Matt Smith has long believed he was capable of being a standout driver in a car and not just on a motorcycle.

As he’s quickly proven in the Arabian Drag Racing League, the Al-Anabi Racing talent is also able to do both at the same time.

Smith, the son of legendary driver Rickie Smith, has been one of the biggest stories at Qatar Racing Club (QRC) over the past month for his efforts both behind the wheel of a Pro Extreme car and on his Harley-Davidson Pro Extreme Motorcycle.

The latest headline-grabber came on Tuesday when Smith went 3.57 at 212.47 miles per hour during testing in KH Al-Thani’s PX Camaro, following it up with a 3.58 at an even faster 212.60 mph on his next pass.

It’s the most recent turn of events in a span that Smith has thoroughly enjoyed.

“This is a dream come true. I have followed the shadow of my dad and his career in the car, and it’s a dream come true to finally get to drive a car,” Smith said. “I knew I could do it and just somebody just had to give me an opportunity.”

The opportunity came last month when he took over driving duties from Al-Anabi Racing owner Al-Thani, and Smith has not disappointed.

He went 3.63 on his first full pass in December, but that was just the start.

Smith, a 12-time NHRA event winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle, set a new track record in PXM last week in Round Four, going 4.12 in a runner-up finish that turned more than a few heads. Less than a week later, Smith grabbed the attention of everyone, this time back inside Al-Thani’s powerful PX car.

The 3.57 and 3.58, both at 212-plus mph, would have set both ends of the record in both the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) and Arabian Series had it come during an official race.

Still, it’s quickest and the 212.60 mph is the fastest recorded time in the eighth-mile in doorslammer history and that has Smith excited.

The next part of the equation is turning those remarkable times into wins with four races remaining in the Arabian season. Smith and his team, led by crew chief Frank Manzo, have put in the work, putting in nearly 30 passes over the past month.

“We’re getting there. I’ve been so good on the tree testing over here. I think we’ll win some races really quick if we get things straightened out,” Smith said. “We’ve got the most power of any car over here and we’re going to be fast with it, too.”

Smith hasn’t forgotten about his goals in PXM, either, or what his future holds in the ADRL.

For the 2011 ADRL Tour, which starts March 25-26 at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Texas, Smith said that after talking with Al-Thani he expects to run the full ADRL schedule in both PX and PXM.

“It should be awesome,” Smith said. “We’re going to car and a bike in ADRL, and we’re going to have fun. I’m going to have my hands full.”

In a short time, Smith has proven more than capable.

After going no quicker than 4.43 in PXM during two ADRL races in 2010, Smith’s Harley has made tremendous improvements, taking off massive amounts of time with last week’s 4.12.

Sticking with his high expectations, Smith hopes more hard work can lead into uncharted waters, whether in Qatar or stateside in the ADRL.

“I think we can get in the 3s in the next few months,” Smith said. “If we can do it over here, that would be great, but if not, we’ll wait until we get back and run the season in the ADRL this year.”

Only one thing needs to be solved on the Harley and Smith is confident, especially after seeing the progress thus far, that will be done in the near future.

“The biggest thing we’re having problem with is it doesn’t want to react. We’ve got something there and there’s a delay. When you let the button go, there’s a delay,” Smith said.

“If we get that solved, we’ll have a pretty fast bike. This is all new to us and we’re trying to get it right and it’s going to take some time. We’ve come a long ways pretty quick and that’s why I think we’ll be in the 3s when we get it figured out. We haven’t really even pushed the bike yet.”

Hernandez' forecast for ADRL Round 5: "Fast"

DOHA, Qatar (January 12, 2011) - According to B1 Racing Pro Extreme driver Josh Hernandez, the weather in Qatar is perfect for racing: only 50 grains of water and an adjusted altitude of 600 feet. To the casual fan, water grains and altitude mean nothing more than sweating when you hike to the top of the stands, but crew chiefs and drivers salivate when they see conditions like this. Dry air with lots of oxygen means lots of combustion, and that means horsepower. Translated: if the weather holds out, Round 5 of the Arabian Drag Racing League Championship will be extremely fast.

"Fast is good. We like that," Hernandez said as he prepared for this week's battle - a battle that is shaping up to be epic in proportion. With four out of eight races in the books, Hernandez is currently tied for second place and less than two round-wins out of the lead.

"When the season started, there were just a few teams that I thought were in contention to take the championship. We won the first race and jumped out to an early lead, but the landscape has really changed as far as powerful racers. There's been a kind of changing of the guard, so to speak.

"Frankie Taylor has been on a tear since last year when he won the Pro Extreme Belt, he can definitely run numbers. Add to that Alex Hossler who is running career-best times, JR Todd who is coming on strong, Matt Smith who laid down a 3.50-something in testing this week, and even Ali [Aryan, Hernandez B1 teammate] has a car that can go to the winner's circle. That's a whole lot of heavy hitters that can have a great lap at any given time.

"I'm not worried that we can compete, though. Jim Oddy and Troy Critchley are the best of the best, and we've also got Rick Hickman and now Pat Musi tuning our nitrous car giving input as well. That's a whole lot of brain power that can create a whole lot of horsepower, and that's what it's going to take to win races," he said.

"What it comes down to is this: this weekend we should see some really great, fast racing conditions, and that means it will come down to tuning and driving. I know our guys will do their part, and I feel confident I can do my part. It'll be great for the fans to watch, whether they are catching it online in the States or are here live in Qatar," Hernandez said.

Pat Musi joins B1 Racing to tune Khalid Mohammed's Pro Nitrous entry

DOHA, Qatar (January 12, 2011) - For B1 Racing's Khalid Mohammed, the news that veteran engine builder and eight-time Pro Street world champion Pat Musi was joining the team as the crew chief on his Pro Nitrous entry came as great news on many levels. It's well known in the Pro Mod world that Pat Musi builds great engines and can generate championship-winning horsepower, and that alone would make most drivers ecstatic. But for Mr. Mohammed, there's history here.

"Pat Musi is the one who taught me to drive a Pro Mod in 2005, so to have him on board tuning our car is very exciting," Mr. Mohammed said. "I had been driving since around 1996 and had a lot of success in places like Kuwait and UAE, but we wanted to step things up, so I bought a '63 Corvette in the States in 2005, and then flew over to get licensed and test the car - with Pat helping me and coaching me all along the way."

Since then, Mr. Mohammed has advanced his career to where he sits now - as the lone nitrous driver in the B1 Racing stable, and positioned currently at number three in a tight race for the Arabian Drag Racing League's Championship. He won the first Round of the ADRL 2010-11 season, and most recently was runner-up last week in Round 4.

"Pat is an awesome tuner and a good friend, so I know things will be great with him coming on board right now. To add someone of his caliber at this point in the season will be the extra push that can get us to the top."

Jumping right into the mix, Musi will tune Mr. Mohammed's car in Round 5 action this Thursday and Friday, and then will be with the team at least through the end of the season in late February.

Stretched by crash in ADRL Round 4, B1 racer Ali Aryan "Ready to go" in Round 5

DOHA, Qatar (January 12, 2011) - B1 Racing driver Ali Aryan has driven all kinds of cars in competition, from drag racing to karting and beyond, but his driving skills were certainly tested and stretched last week when he heard something snap in his DHL Pro Extreme Pro Mod while accelerating past 120 mph during qualifying. The veteran driver was forced into the path of the car in the lane next to him - something that could have been catastrophic -- but the quick reaction of the other driver and Aryan's skills kept damage to a minimum.

In the end, it was a four link in the suspension that stretched and broke that brought on the chain of events which led Aryan to the left retaining wall from his right lane.

"One of the heim joints broke in the four link, and the four link broke into two pieces. Then one of the pieces punctured the left rear tire and blew it up. So once it was punctured, that was it. I went into the second lane, trying to steer the car back into my lane and stop the car. I had the steering wheel in my hands the whole time, but I couldn't control it at all. We hit the wall, and I got the parachutes out and came to a stop in the middle of the track," Aryan explained.

"The damage was basically cosmetic. We put a new rear end in the car, new four link, new wheelie bars, did a little body work, and that's it. Rick Hickman [crew chief] and the whole B1 team did a great job getting things put back together," he said. "As far as me, I'm fine - no problems at all."

The idea of getting back into a car that has hit the wall doesn't phase Aryan.

"I'm not concerned about the car at all. After we got everything put back together, we had a chance to do a couple of 330-foot passes to test out our launch and everything looked good. We are hoping we get a chance to make at least one test run on Thursday before we start qualifying.

"Either way, we know this car is capable of low 3.60-s, and if the weather is as perfect as it has been, we can get a 3.50-something out of it, no problem.

"I'm anxious and ready to go," Aryan added.

Three rounds of qualifying are scheduled for Thursday beginning at 2 p.m. local time, with one more round of qualifying scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to be run in their entirety Friday evening.

Jenkins Still Searching For Consistency Heading Into Round 5

DOHA, QATAR (January 11, 2011) – During the two-week break from racing in the Arabian Drag Racing League, Shannon Jenkins spent most of his time in front of his laptop studying graph after graph, in search of the problems that had plagued his Al-Anabi Racing’s Camaro during the first three races in December at Qatar Racing Club (QRC).

Although Jenkins was confident he found what he was looking for, testing and qualifying produced nothing but tire shakes and headaches. Jenkins made the necessary adjustments on race day, but a red light in the semifinals ended his stay in Round Four last week.

During the round, the “Iceman” got the best of Isaias Rojas when he used an incredible reaction time of .006 and a stellar 3.88 at more than 195 miles per hour to advance to the semifinals. There he met points leader Khalid Al-Balooshi, and Jenkins’ second 3.88 was negated by the disappointing red light.

“I’m very disappointed with the red light for the Al-Anabi team and for my crew, but that’s just racing. We had a car that could have won this race, but we didn’t, so we’re just going to focus 100 percent on next week, and find a way to get the job done,” said Jenkins.

Mahana Al-Naimi, Jenkins’ teammate, wheeled his Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro to a No. 2 qualifying spot, but eliminations yielded similar results as to what the “Iceman” experienced in his semifinal matchup.

In the opening round of eliminations, Mahana had lane choice over Al-Anabi teammate Burton Auxier. Mahana had a great run of 3.95 at more 191 mph, but he left with the red light glowing in his lane as well, giving Auxier the opportunity to race in the semifinals.

“As I’ve said many times before, Mahana is doing a great job driving this race car. He just pushed the tree a little too much as I did myself,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins is currently in third in the points standings at the halfway mark of the season, but after a frustrating December where he still earned a win, Jenkins finally feels on the right path.

“We learned a lot this weekend and finally got these two cars to make some consistent runs, so I’m looking forward to next week, because we are going to try to get both of these cars in the final round,” Jenkins said.

“I have spent countless hours in front of this computer, studying run after run, trying to find these gremlins. I’m very confident in what I have found. We just have to make run after run until we get this race car happy and consistently fast.”

Khalid Mohammed takes Bahrain 1 to the Pro Nitrous finals in ADRL Round 4

DOHA, Qatar (January 7, 2011) - Bahrain 1 Pro Nitrous driver Khalid Mohammed drove to the final round of the Arabian Drag Racing League Fourth Round at Qatar Racing Club in Doha and maintained his No. 3 position in the championship points Friday.

Mr. Mohammed qualified No. 6 in the eight-car field with a 4.109 second pass at 189.20 mph, and was paired with Ali Alkaabi in the first round of eliminations Friday afternoon.

Mr. Mohammed blistered the Christmas tree with an .010 light and ran a 3.973 189.66 mph beat Mr. Alkaabi and advance to a semifinal meeting with former NHRA Pro Mod world champion Burton Auxier. Auxier lost the race before it started with a red light start, but Mr. Mohammed's performance of 3.968-seconds at 190.22 mph would have been a formidable number to beat regardless.

In the finals, Mr. Mohammed was paired with current number one driver Khalid Al-Balooshi, and the B1 driver knew he had to give everything he had in order to challenge the hard-running Al-Balooshi. When the lights turned green, the 854 cubic inch Sonny's engine delivered as much horsepower as possible, but the car was unable to transfer the power to the ground, shook the tires and forced Mr. Mohammed into Al-Balooshi's lane, forfeiting the race.

"I have to give credit to the entire Bahrain 1 team for getting our car to the finals. Everyone helped tune and prepare my car, and the results were great," Mr. Mohammed said. "I can't thank everyone enough.

"We ran very hard all day long today, and making it to the finals was a great success. The confidence we gained and the data we gathered will definitely keep us moving forward next week when we race again in Round 5.

"Next race, we just have one more round to win," Mr. Mohammed added.

Bahrain 1 Racing will return to the drag strip at Qatar Racing Club January 13-14 for Round 5 of the eight-race season.

Hernandez exits early in ADRL Round 4

DOHA, Qatar (January 7, 2011) - It definitely wasn't the kind of day Josh Hernandez expected behind the wheel of his Bahrain 1 Pro Extreme '57 Chevy Pro Mod. Coming into Round 4 of the Arabian Drag Racing League's 2010-2011 season, Hernandez held a 3-point lead in championship points and had great positive momentum from the previous three races. Then, for whatever reason, his car's performance "suffered a hiccup."

After three rounds of qualifying Thursday, Hernandez sat outside the field looking in with only one chance remaining to break into the very quick ladder. Unphased by the pressure, his Jim Oddy/Troy Critchley-tuned car squeaked into the No. 8 spot Friday afternoon and forced a first-round match-up with the hard-charging No. 1 qualifier Alex Hossler.

When the two faced off for their horsepower duel in round one, Hernandez blistered the tree with a .006 reaction time to Hossler's .035 but from there, the Texas-native couldn't hold on to his lead and fell to Hossler, 3.791-seconds at 200.02 mph to Hossler's 3.671 at 209.17.

"I definitely had him off the line, but we shook a little bit in the middle, and it was enough to let him drive around us. We just couldn't get it to stick on that lap," Hernandez said.

"It was just one of those races. It seemed they were handing out 3.60's like they were candy today, but we were at the end of the line and couldn't seem to get one.

"We'll go back to the garage, turn some knobs on the car, take a couple of test laps next week and hit the track again hard in Round 5. This team has worked together long enough to know that some races you remember because of your success, and some races you just shake your head and walk away. We'll be fine and get right back in the saddle next week," Hernandez said.

Un-officially, Hernandez slipped into a tie for second place with Frankie Taylor, with both drivers two rounds behind Round 4 winner JR Todd.

Hernandez and Bahrain 1 Racing will return to the drag strip at Qatar Racing Club January 13-14 for Round 5 of the eight-race season.

Aryan makes impact with new car in ADRL Round 4 at QRC

DOHA, Qatar (January 7, 2011) - Bahrain 1 Pro Extreme driver Ali Aryan knew driving a new car would make an impact on his qualifying efforts, but he didn't expect to make an impact on the retaining wall during qualifying in the ADRL Round 4 at Qatar Racing Club in Doha.

Behind the wheel of the team's '69 Camaro - a new ride for Aryan -- the Bahrainian veteran driver jumped to the top of the list in his first lap Thursday with a blistering 3.667-second run at 203.65 mph, but was taken completely out of the race in the very next round because his car suffered a suspension failure and tagged the wall.

"I think it looked more dramatic than it felt," Aryan said. "The car had great power and had already proven it could go fast, but something broke and I just had to get it slowed down.

"I'm OK, though, and we'll be able to have the car ready for the next race," he said.

Track medical personnel cleared Aryan right after the accident, and, according to B1 team members, the car suffered only minor damage and will be repaired for the Round 5 race next week.

"It's funny. Before this race, I said that the first thing I wanted to do was qualify, and that's exactly what I did. Now, I'm going to say that I want to qualify well and win the race. Let's see what happens next week," Aryan added.

The Bahrain 1 Race Team will return to the drag strip at Qatar Racing Club January 13-14 for Round 5 of the eight-race season.

Todd, Al-Balooshi Both Pick Up Second Win With Round 4 Victories

DOHA, QATAR (January 7, 2011) – A day after his teammate had a record day, J.R. Todd continued his remarkable start to a promising Pro Extreme career.

The former Top Fuel standout has caught on quickly in the doorslammer ranks as well, posting another remarkable performance in the Arabian Drag Racing League on Friday at Qatar Racing Club (QRC).

His sparkling ’57 Chevy displayed bracket car-like efficiency during Round Four of the eight-race series, capping off a consistent day with a 3.67 in the finals against Von Smith, giving him two wins and the points lead after four races.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I got here and this has definitely exceeded my expectations,” the PX newcomer said. “It’s tough to win over here. There’s eight of the best cars in the world and it’s tough from top to bottom.

“So far it’s gone well and we did what we had to do today.”

Todd wasn’t the only standout driver who picked up his second win in the 2010-11 season.

In Pro Nitrous, Khalid Al-Balooshi overcame a fire to his car during testing on Wednesday to pick up his second win of the season.

Al-Balooshi went 3.86 in the finals on Friday, knocking off Khaled Mohamed.

Meshal Al-Saber knocked off the ever-improving Matt Smith in Pro Extreme Motorcycle, going 4.27 in a holeshot win in the finals, while Ruben Arrieta went 4.33 to win in Outlaw 10.5.

“I’m on cloud nine right now,” Arrieta said. “This is something I’ve dreamed about.”

Todd’s Pro Extreme career has been so short he likely hasn’t had time to dream, but it would probably go something like this.

Teaming with Alex Hossler, who recorded a career-best 3.64 at 209 miles per hour in qualifying on Thursday, Todd has proven to be a quick learner in PX.

He won Round Two in December and posted a solid Friday against an incredible field.

Todd went 3.66 at 207 mph to beat Todd Tutterow in the first round, following it up with a 3.67 at another 207 mph.

Von Smith knocked off Frankie Taylor and Hossler to reach the finals, but Todd posted his second 3.67 at 208 mph to beat the red-lighting Smith.

“In the semifinals, we hurt the piston, so it was a mad thrash to get it ready for the finals,” Todd said. “This thing has been like a Cadillac. It hasn’t done anything wrong yet.”

What has helped has been teaming with Hossler and crew chief Rob Flynn.

Todd’s natural talent has been evident, but a good support staff has also paid dividends thus far.

“With Rob calling the shots and (KH Al-Thani) putting together a great team, it’s been great,” Todd said. “We’ve worked together well and that’s what it takes.”

Al-Balooshi deflected nearly all the credit for his second win and the PN points leader at the halfway mark also knew immediately what he was doing with the trophy.

“This second trophy is going back to Speedtech,” Al-Balooshi said. “Hopefully I can ship them the belt, too.”

At this rate, it certainly looks possible.

The fire posed some problems early in the week, as did swapping out the motor, but Al-Balooshi was the dominant driver on Friday.

His 3.84 in the first round was the best run of the day, and he followed that with a 3.86 in a red-light win against Shannon Jenkins before going 194 mph in the finals.

“But everybody who works on this team has put me in a beautiful car. This race we weren’t looking at running fast, but hopefully we will be perfect before the season ends.”

It was an upset-filled day in PXM, which started with Matt Smith setting a new track record with a 4.12.

Previous event winners Rob Hunnicutt, who lost to Smith, and Terry Schweigert, both fell in the semifinals, as Smith went 4.18 in his win against the PXM points leader.

But Al-Saber was quicker off the line to earn his first victory of the season.

“Meshal performed really well,” crew chief Sadiq Taqi said. “To win among all these champions feels great. There’s some big names in this field and to win makes me feel really proud.”

Smith, who is also driving Al-Thani’s PX car, has made tremendous strides on his 2010 Harley, but he couldn’t complete his day with a win.

“We’re trying to get it right and it’s going to take some time, but we’ve come a long ways pretty quick,” Smith said.

Round Five takes place Jan. 13-14 at QRC.

Career-Best Run Vaults Hossler To Top Of Pro Extreme Qualifying

DOHA, QATAR (January 6, 2011) – After finishing as the runner-up in the Pro Extreme class of the Arabian Drag Racing League a year ago, Alex Hossler was ready to pick up where he left off this season.

It took four events and plenty of headaches, but Hossler finally appears to have regained that magic.

With three races of frustration behind him, the Al-Anabi Racing driver rebounded in a major way, setting career-bests across the board, as his 3.641 at 209 miles per hour vaulted him to the top of qualifying after three rounds on Thursday at Qatar Racing Club (QRC).
“To get a career-best is always uplifting, especially after the first three races when we couldn’t get things to come together,” Hossler said. “For it all to work is comforting, but not too comforting in this class.

“The bump already (3.74) and it could be 60-something (Friday). There’s no easy rounds here, but to go 3.64 feels good.”

With one round of qualifying left for the fourth race of the eight-race series, the bump is already incredibly quick, as Mike Stawicki sits in eighth with 3.74.

Notables currently out of the field include 2010 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Extreme 10.5 World Champion Dan Millen (3.81), who is racing in PX this week while the start of the XTF season is pushed back a week, Matt Smith (4.36) and Joshua Hernandez (3.85).

The quick times carried over to Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme Motorcycle as well.
Khalid Al-Balooshi, the 2009 ADRL World Champion in PN, is currently second with a 3.887, a day after his car caught fire in testing. Mahanna Al-Naimi is first with a 3.880.

In PXM, Terry Schweigert re-set the track record he set in the first race in December, going 4.13 on his second qualifying pass.

Rob Hunnicutt, looking to make it three straight wins while also extending his points lead, isn’t far off, sitting in second with a career-best 4.14.

That came on his third qualifying run and left Hunnicutt feeling excited about Friday.
“I went faster every round, so I’m really excited,” Hunnicutt said. “I’m just hoping I can keep it up.”
Hunnicutt went a 4.15 before his quickest pass of the day, and it all came after some minor adjustments on a track he has enjoyed ever since arriving in December.

Matt Smith went a 4.15 to qualify third in PXM, but Schweigert and Hunnicutt appear on a collision course to meet in another final round. Schweigert won the first race, but Hunnicutt has been untouchable lately.

“We started the day with some problems and we ended up leaving the line on our first pass with way too much bottle pressure,” Hunnicutt said. “We changed the solenoid and went a career-best, and I was pumped. We just have to keep it up.”

Hossler is certainly hoping for more of the same in Pro Extreme, but he has plenty of company at the top.
Ali Aryan is in second in PX (3.667), while Todd Tutterow is in third after going 3.669. Other top performances include Von Smith (3.675), and Frankie Taylor (3.679), who is seeking his second win.
But Hossler and his team, led by Rob Flynn and Mike Guger, appear to have righted the ship after a number of frustrating minor problems last month.

“We weren’t really making the wrong tune-up calls, it was just non-stop bad luck,” Hossler said. “We never had a chance to work on our tune-up because we were wondering what would break next.

“We’re ecstatic after what we did today. Hopefully we can carry it into (Friday) and go some rounds for a change.”
Like Hossler, Tutterow suffered through similar difficulties during the three-race session at QRC in December.
He seemed to have corrected those problems as well. Tutterow posted two runs in the 3.6s, which came after a strong testing session on Wednesday.

“I feel very confident right now,” Tutterow said. “The last two days are the most consistent we’ve had here. I feel good heading into (Friday).”

Al-Balooshi turned in another solid performance on Thursday in PN, this time with a new motor after his testing mishap a day ago.

But he remains far from satisfied as he shoots for his second win in four races in PN.
“We’re going to try to be a little faster,” Al-Balooshi said. “This car has shown it can go in the 3.9s and high 3.8s, but that’s not what we’re looking at. We want to go faster.

“The guys are working very carefully to make the car perfect.”

Kahlid Mohammed anxious to keep positive momentum in ARDL Round 4

DOHA, Qatar (January 4, 2011) - Currently sitting third in Arabian Drag Racing League Championship points after three of eight events, Bahrain 1 Pro Nitrous driver Kahlid Mohammed is anxious to keep his positive momentum and move up the ladder this week in Round 4 competition at Qatar Racing Club at Doha.

"We are working hard to do something good in this race," Mr. Mohammed said. "We have made some small changes in our setup, and we will test them tomorrow to get ready for the race.

In his first three outings, he has had one win and two semifinal finishes, putting him less than three round-wins out of first place with five events left.

"I was actually going to try to skip this race, but since I am currently number three in the points, I don't want to not race and give that up," he said.

The weather forecast for this week is sunny with temperatures in the mid-70's - perfect for drag racing.

"It's cooled down a little more, and the weather is beautiful, so we should see some really great drag racing.

"We're all going to work hard to keep our number three spot and try to move up," Mr. Mohammed said.

Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. local time Thursday, January 6 and conclude Friday beginning at 2 p.m. followed by three rounds of eliminations.

Pro Nitrous Standings (after 3 of 8 events)
Khalid Al-Balooshi 1047
Shannon Jenkins 896
Khalid Mohammed 789
Burton Auxier 639
Mahanna Al-Naimi 587
Ali Alkaabi 582
Isaias Rojas 488
Edward Wilson 382

A New Ride for Aryan brings renewed confidence

DOHA, Qatar (January 4, 2011) - Bahrain 1 Racing Pro Extreme driver Ali Aryan will be driving a different car this week in Round 4 of the Arabian Drag Racing League's 2010-11 Championship at Qatar Racing Club in Doha, and the 41-year-old Bahrainian racer is anxious to move up in the points - beginning with qualifying for eliminations.

In both Rounds 1 and 2, Aryan struggled with mechanical issues and failed to qualify. In Round 3, he sat out pending arrival of parts for his previous car. Over the holiday, he was assigned the team's '69 Camaro, and the multiple record-setting driver knew he had a "horse in the race that could run laps."

"I'm definitely ready for this race," Aryan said. "I'm confident we will qualify this weekend because the Camaro has been running low 3.70's, so I should be ok.”

Aryan is a multi-faceted driver with experience in several types of racing including Karting, Lumina CSV, Mini Challenge and Autocross, so the idea of switching cars mid-season is not a worry.

"True, I've never driven the car before, but, I should have a chance tomorrow to do three or four hits before we start qualifying on Thursday, so I'll be up to speed."

With five full races left, Aryan knows that he is far from out of the championship hunt, although the battle is up-hill.

"My goal for the season is to be in the top four in the Championship, and I'll do whatever it takes to put me there.

"Right now, that starts with qualifying and then going rounds, so that is what we are looking forward to," Aryan said.

Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. local time Thursday, January 6 and conclude Friday January 7 beginning at 2 p.m. followed by three rounds of eliminations.

Hernandez holds championship lead for Bahrain 1 heading into ADRL Round 4 at QRC

DOHA, Qatar (January 4, 2011) - Bahrain 1 Racing driver Josh Hernandez currently holds a three point lead in the Pro Extreme points ladder in the 2010-2011 Arabian Drag Racing League Championship heading into the fourth of eight races in the series. This week's event at Qatar Racing Club in Doha is pivotal in the mind of the Houston, Texas racer, but he is far from phased by the championship battle.

"I like our chances," Hernandez said laughing. "The car is running good, the team is working well together, and with Jim Oddy and Troy Critchley-inspired horsepower, we've got an amazing team."

With such a slim lead, the former multiple-times world champion is watching every qualifying round, knowing that each point is critical. With two final-round appearances and one win, his '57 Chevy Pro Extreme Pro Mod is in prime form.

"There are no changes to the car really since the last time we raced. We're going to make some minor adjustments like we do every time we go down the race track, but the car is looking pretty good so far.

"We'll just turn a few knobs here and there, and see if we can make it go a little bit faster," he said.

Running on the same QRC dragstrip as the previous events would seem to offer a constant in the setup, but Hernandez said every day is different in the Qatar desert.

"Racing at the same racetrack every weekend, you think we'd have a line on it pretty fast, but the conditions change every time we hit the strip. It has presented its challenges, but the team has stepped up and met those challenges every weekend.

"I feel great, and I can't wait to get behind the wheel this Thursday," Hernandez said.

Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. local time Thursday, January 6 and conclude Friday beginning at 2 p.m. followed by three rounds of eliminations.

Pro Extreme Points (after 3 of 8 races)
Josh Hernandez 996
Frankie Taylor 993
J R Todd 894
Rickie Smith 687
Todd Tutterow 490
Alex Hossler 385
Mike Stawicki 378
Von Smith 281
Bader Ahli 179
Wes Johnston 150
Ellis Vial Jr 50
Ali Aryan 50
Khalid Al-Thani 25
Matt Smith 25

Jenkins Will Take Good Fortune In Round Three Victory

DOHA, QATAR (December 20, 2010) – After what happened during the first two rounds, Shannon Jenkins would have gladly taken any good fortunes in Round Three of the Arabian Drag Racing League at Qatar Racing Club (QRC).

Plenty came his way on Friday and Jenkins returned to a familiar perch – back on top in Pro Nitrous.

Jenkins got plenty of luck, but he did his part and took advantage, winning Round Three in Qatar, returning home after the three-race stretch in December with much some much-needed momentum.

“It’s great to finally get our first win of the season here at QRC,” Jenkins said. “My guys have done an outstanding job, and I’m very proud of them for their hard work and dedication to our team. I also can’t thank Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani and the people of Qatar enough for allowing us to be a part of such a great team.”

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) PN standout had plenty of luck to get the win, but Jenkins likely felt like he was due for some.

In the opening round of eliminations, Jenkins defeated Khalid Mohammad from Bahrain Racing on a red light and he followed up with a semifinal win after Khalid Al-Balooshi was off his game.

That led to a rematch of the finals of the ADRL “Battle For The Belts,” as Jenkins paired up with Al-Anabi Racing teammate and close friend Burton Auxier.

Both drivers had their hands full when they experienced problems with tire shake right off the line, but it was Jenkins crossing the stripe first, clinching his first win of the season in the Arabian Series.

Jenkins gladly took the win, but he is still disappointed with the car’s performance and lack of consistency.

“We are still searching for that missing link that keeps upsetting this race car,” Jenkins said. “During qualifying, we made some great runs in the 3.90 range, and felt pretty confident, so we didn’t make any changes going into first round.

“Then, when the track began to cool off first round, we had our hands full, because this particular car refuses to go down this race track when it gets cool.
The problem continues to confound Jenkins and his talented team, which meant there were no typical “Iceman” performances during eliminations.

That meant only one thing.

“Luck, luck, luck. That’s all I can say,” Jenkins said. “The numbers were by far not what we were looking for, but we did get the win, and that’s our main goal.”

Jenkins and his crew will depart from Qatar on Monday to spend the holidays with their families.

Although frustration remains with the “Iceman” and his team due to the car’s performance, a win, a runner-up and two No. 1 qualifying spots, will certainly make their break a little more enjoyable.

“We look forward to spending the holidays with our families, and this win will certainly make our break more enjoyable,” Jenkins. Said. “However, we will be back at the shop, hard at work, trying to find new combinations to make this car happy.

“The last five races will be tough, no doubt, but we are going to do everything we can to find the right set up, so we can remain on top.”

Round Four of the eight-race series begins with qualifying on January 6 at QRC in Qatar.

Dream Ride Continues For Hunnicutt After Second Straight Win

DOHA, QATAR (December 20, 2010) – Like any competitor, Rob Hunnicutt has often wondered what it would feel like to be the frontrunner and the person everyone else was chasing.

Now that it’s happening, the Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider admits it feels quite amazing.

After winning for the first time in his American Drag Racing League (ADRL) and Arabian Drag Racing League career last week, Hunnicutt followed it up with his second straight win, taking Round Three at Qatar Racing Club (QRC) on Friday.

“I’ve never won this many round in probably five years of doing this,” Hunnicutt said. “This is like a dream come true.

“It makes me speechless when I look at these two trophies. I’m almost in awe. It makes all the hard work and time and money worth it.”

Hunnicutt is riding high after another memorable race, giving him two wins and one runner-up finish through three of the eight races in the Arabian Series in Qatar.

Not even the optimistic Hunnicutt could have imagined this scenario.

Nearly everything has gone right for the talented rider, but Round Three marked his best all-around performance to date.

He was the No. 1 qualifier with a 4.17 and then went 4.18 in the first round to knock off Billy Vose, whom Hunnicutt beat in the finals of Round Two.

In the semifinals, he got his re-match with Terry Schweigert, who won in Round One. This time, Hunnicutt couldn’t be tracked down, as he went 4.16 to meet T.T. Jones in the finals, where he added another 4.16 to finish as the wire-to-wire winner and maintain his points lead in PXM.

“I’m really, really excited right now. Christmas came (Friday),” Hunnicutt said.

Hunnicutt will get a memorable welcome when he returns home to his family, but he already happily recalled the conversation he had with them after his first win.

“I wish they could have been here to see it, but I hear them screaming on the phone after I told them I won, and it just feels really good,” Hunnicutt said. “This is how you envision it going when you start racing.”

Hunnicutt won last week on his back-up motor, but as a sign that every decision has been on point, their team went back to their first motor for Round Three.

It broke on the very first pass in Qatar several weeks ago, but it yielded much quicker times than the back-up motor.

It also did that without Hunnicutt and his team pressing the combination.

“We weren’t really pushing things with the motor,” Hunnicutt said. “We knew this motor was faster.”

Hunnicutt has also stepped up his game. He’s been fast at the light and put together some incredible incrementals through three races.

He only hopes this momentum carries over when he returns to QRC for Rounds Four and Five in January.

Round Four begins on January 6 in Qatar.

“I told my wife if I just made the finals and lost every race I would be happy,” Hunnicutt said. “Now, it’s almost like a dream I don’t want to wake up from.

“I really hope I have a shot at the title.”

Bahrain 1's Hernandez Leads the Team with PX Finals appearance in ARDL Round 3

DOHA, Qatar (December 19, 2010) - Joshua Hernandez led Bahrain 1's performance with a runner-up finish in the Pro Extreme Finals of Round 3 of the Arabian Drag Racing League's Championship Series, contested at Qatar Racing Club in Doha. Teammates Rickey Smith (PX) and Kahlid Mohammed (Pro Nitrous) both exited first round, while Ali Aryan (PX) was sidelined for the event pending arrival of parts for a new car. Mr. Aryan is scheduled to race in Round 4.

Hernandez and his '57 Chevy finished qualifying in the top spot with a 3.653-second eighth-mile time at 206.76 mph and was paired first round with No. 8 qualifying Von Smith. Hernandez drove straight down the lane and beat Smith, 3.694 to 4.317. B1's Rickey Smith fell in the same round to JR Todd, 3.719 to Todd's 3.669, while Pro Nitrous driver Kahlid Mohammed left the starting line too early and fell to Shannon Jenkins.

Round two pitted Hernandez against Todd Tutterow, with Hernandez again taking the stripe, 3.694 at 205.98 mph to 3.734 at 207.05 mph, and setting up a battle of the Texans for the for the finals, Hernandez vs. Frankie Taylor. Hernandez beat Taylor the only other time the two raced each other this season.

At the line, Hernandez delivered a near-perfect .004 reaction time to Taylor's .058-second reaction, but even with five-hundredth's in the bank, Hernandez couldn't hold back the hard-charging Taylor, dropping the race at the stripe 3.712 at 205.60 to Taylor's quicker 3.634 at a blistering 210.41 mph.

"It was a disappointing loss in the finals to Frankie even though I had a .004 light to his .050-something," Hernandez said.

"Overall, though, we ran very consistently, two 3.69's and a 3.71, which is good. We really wanted to bring Sheikh Abdullah another trophy to top off the Bahrain National Day celebrations, but this time it wasn't meant to be.

"I really have to thank everyone at B1 Racing for their incredible efforts to give this hot rod a fighting chance against the best in the world. We are all looking forward to Round 4 of the ADRL in a few weeks right back here in Doha," Hernandez said.

The entire Bahrain 1 Race Team will return to the drag strip January 6-7, 2011 for Round 4 of the eight-race season. The Arabian Drag Racing League Championship Series features eight events in 2010-11 with drivers and riders in 11 classes fighting for the ADRL's championship.

Hernandez on top heading into Round 3 at QRC

DOHA, Qatar (December 15, 2010) - Entering the third round of the Arabian Drag Racing League 2010-2011 Season, former World Champion Joshua Hernandez is tied for the points lead and anxious to maintain the top spot for the Bahrain 1 Team at Qatar Racing Club, December 16-17.

With clear weather and upper 70-degree days forecast, Hernandez is confident his Jim Oddy/Troy Critchley-tuned '57 Chevy Pro Mod can meet the competition.

"We didn't make any wholesale changes to the car because we know we can run a time similar to the 3.66-second lap we made last week," Hernandez said. He won the first event and had a semifinal finish last week in round two.

"We've got a lot of consistency, and really all we're going to do is try to pick up the ET a shade. There are a lot of heavy hitters in this series and we've really got to swing the bat and try to hit the fence on every pass.

"We'll just work on the tune-up a bit and see if we can pick up a couple hundredths here and there and run some low-60's," Hernandez said.

The Arabian Drag Racing League features eight events with drivers and riders in 11 classes fighting for the ADRL's championship. Round 3 runs Thursday and Friday, December 16-17 at Qatar Racing Club in Doha.

Mohammed Ready to Heat up the Track in ADRL Round 3 at QRC

DOHA, Qatar (December 15, 2010) - Bahrain 1 Pro Nitrous driver Khaled Mohammed is anxious to heat up the track and move up the points ladder in Round 3 of the Arabian Drag Racing League at Qatar Racing Club in Doha December 16-17.

"We have made several changes to the car to try and pick up our ET," Mohammed explained. He said the team changed the clutch and several settings, but he remains confident about his performance. He won the ADRL Round 1 and made a semifinal exit last week in Round 2.

"We were able to get some testing in Wednesday evening, and everything is OK for racing this week," he said.

Sandstorms and cold weather kept Mohammed's Bahrain 1 teammates from testing, but forecasts call for calm winds and temperatures in the upper 70's for the next several days - great weather for racing.

"It's tricky when the track is cold, and we have to adjust our tuning, but we should be fine for the race coming up," Mohammed added.

The Arabian Drag Racing League features eight events with drivers and riders in 11 classes fighting for the ADRL's championship.

Hernandez on top heading into Round 3 at QRC

Bahrain 1 Drag Racing team upbeat after semifinal finishes in Round 2 at QRC

DOHA, Qatar (December 14, 2010) - After stellar results in the season's first Arabian Drag Racing League event for the Bahrain 1 drag racing team that saw three of the four drivers in the finals and both Josh Hernandez and Khaled Mohammed claiming the Pro Extreme and Pro Nitrous trophies at the Qatar Race Club in Doha, Qatar, the team stumbled slightly in the second round but remains confident and positive.

In week two, Josh Hernandez and Rickie Smith (Pro Extreme) made semifinal exits as compared to both meeting in the finals the week before. Ali Aryan fought tire shake throughout qualifying and failed to make the show. Bahrain 1's lone Pro Nitrous driver, Khaled Mohammed, took the winner’s trophy in first event and made a semifinal departure in round two.

Hernandez qualified No. 2 and took out Bader Ahli in the first round of eliminations, navigating the eighth-mile track in 3.683 seconds at 205.88 mph to Ahli's 3.798 seconds at 202.94 mph. In round two, Hernandez fell to J.R. Todd, 3.718 at 205.44 to Todd's quicker 3.678 at 207.05 mph. Rickie Smith dispatched Von Smith in round one, 3.693 at 201.31 mph to 4.121 at 141.19, and exited in the semifinals after losing the stripe to Frankie Taylor, 3.710 at 200.17 to Taylor's quicker 3.635 at 210.08 mph.

Josh Hernandez said, "The track has been changing a lot more than we thought it would be, so we struggled to find consistency in the second race. I'm sure we'll find the sweet spot in the next few races.

"On the run against JR, we struggled a little in the middle, and it shook just enough to bring our ET down to a 3.71. He only beat me by nine-thousandths of a second - a couple of inches - so it was a really good, really close race."

Khaled Mohammed (Pro Nitrous) faced Isaias Rojas in a tight battle in round one, taking the line in a holeshot, and lost second round in a holeshot to Ali Alkaabi, 4.074 at 188.65 to Alkaabi's slower but winning 4.095 at 182.60.

The Arabian Drag Racing League features eight events with drivers and riders in 11 classes fighting for the ADRL's championship.

The Bahrain 1 Race Team will return to the drag strip December 16-17 for round three of the eight-race season.

Taylor Ends Memorable 2010 With Round Three Victory

DOHA, QATAR – Earlier in 2010, Frankie “Mad Man” Taylor could not have envisioned traveling abroad to race in the Middle East, but after setting the world record and winning the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) title this year in Pro Extreme, it was an easy decision for Frankie to keep his momentum moving forward by racing through the winter.

It’s already been a memorable time through three of the eight races in the Arabian Drag Racing League at Qatar Racing Club (QRC) in Qatar.

After setting two tracks records and advancing to one final, Taylor wrapped up his December with a win, going 3.63 at 210.41 miles per hour to beat Joshua Hernandez in the finals of Round Three. Taylor’s celebration was well-earned after beating a loaded field that included Mike Stawicki in the first round (3.67 at 193 mph) and J.R. Todd in the semifinals (3.64, 209 mph).

“Each ladder we race is like racing in the ‘Battle of the Belts’ where everyone is so good. There is no easy win,” Taylor said. “The drivers and teams running in Pro Extreme are unbelievably strong.”

Taylor had to make adjustments after the first event when Taylor lost in the first round of eliminations.

After setting the two track records in the second event with a pass of 3.613 at 211.03 mph, Taylor was able to make up some of his lost points. That momentum ended in the finals of Round Two, as Taylor broke against Todd, who has quickly adjusted to a PX car and has become an impressive doorslammer driver in the process.

After beating longtime racing rival Hernandez in the final of Round Three, Taylor moved into second place in the PX points standings, just three points behind the Bahrain Racing standout.

Round Four of the eight-race Arabian Series resumes in January at QRC and Taylor appears ready for even more excitement.

He is also amazed at the outpouring of support from the staff and fans at QRC.

“Thank you to the Qatar Racing Club for putting on these great events, Sheikh KH (Al-Thani) for helping all of the teams and, of course, special thanks to the race fans in Qatar as you have been extremely gracious to all of us racers,” Taylor said.

Al-Balooshi, Hard-Working Team Deliver In Round Two At QRC

Khalid Al-Balooshi’s otherwise standout racing at Qatar Racing Club seemed to have found more misfortune during Round Two of the Arabian Drag Racing League last week.

After losing on a holeshot during the semifinals of Round One in Pro Nitrous, Al-Balooshi’s car broke after qualifying first during the opening round.

This time, though, Al-Balooshi and his talented team overcame the adversity, turning two weeks of disappointment into a resounding celebration. A popped manifold got fixed in time, and Al-Balooshi ended up with a 3.83 at 195.14 miles per hour, which not only gave him the Round Two title, but also set both records in the process.

In the winner’s circle, a thankful Al-Balooshi was thrilled to deliver the win to a team that worked unbelievably hard just to get his car fixed in time for eliminations.

"I just want to thank all the talented guys back at Speedtech and I am sending the first trophy to them,” Al-Balooshi said. "Brandon (Switzer) has given me such a consistent car and all the guys at Speedtech have provided us with the best products to get the job done."

Through two of the eight races in Qatar, Al-Balooshi has been arguably the top car in PN, but he hasn’t always had the best of luck.

Eventual Round One winner Khaled Mohammed beat Al-Balooshi on a holeshot in the semifinals, ending what seemed like a certain matchup with Shannon Jenkins in the finals.

A week later, Al-Balooshi was back to his usual quick self, going 3.87 in the first qualifying session of Round Two.

But they popped a manifold at the finish line and they were unable to run in the second and third qualifying sessions.

They somehow got it fixed in time for the fourth qualifying round, staying at No. 2 with a 3.86 at 195.14 mph.

Al-Balooshi went 3.90 in a first-round win, improving to a 3.86 to beat Mahana Al-Naimi in the semifinals.

But that was just an appetizer leading up to the finals, where Al-Balooshi, the 2009 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) PN World Champion, delivered a sterling Arabian Series record run that wasn’t far off of Jenkins’ ADRL world E.T. record.

"I just want to thank David Reher, Brad Morgan and all the guys at Reher-Morrison for doing what they do, manufacturing horsepower that is second to none,” Switzer said. "I want to thank all my guys at Speedtech for enabling me to be in this position, to test and develop our new products.

“I also want to thank Sheikh Khalid Al-Thani and the country of Qatar for providing us with a state of the art facility to race at over here, as well as the ADRL staff for providing the best racing surface possible. Without all of these people, my team and I would not be in this position."

Hunnicutt, Todd, Al-Balooshi Grab Round 2 Wins At Qatar Racing Club

DOHA, QATAR (December 10, 2010) – Rob Hunnicutt stayed up most of Thursday night envisioning how Friday’s eliminations would go at Round Two of the Arabian Drag Racing League at Qatar Racing Club.

Now, Hunnicutt will have a tough time sleeping for an entirely different reason.

Proving that consistent is best, Hunnicutt, a Pro Extreme Motorcycle driver with the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), won his first-ever race in either the ADRL or the Arabian Series, going 4.20 in the finals to knock off Billy Vose at QRC.

“I’m pumped, man. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to sleep,” Hunnicutt said. “Coming through the pits after I won, there was so many people congratulating me and cheering me on. This has just been a great experience.”

After a runner-up finish in Round One, Hunnicutt did one better a week later to take the points lead after two of the eight events.

Joining him in the winner’s circle in Qatar was J.R. Todd in Pro Extreme and Khalid Al-Balooshi in Pro Nitrous.

Todd knocked off Frankie Taylor in the final after Taylor broke. Todd barely did much better, but it was still a win, just more than a week after the former NHRA Top Fuel standout debuted in the Pro Extreme class with a sparkling new ’57 Chevy.

“They stayed up late to repair their engine. Congrats to them,” Taylor said.

Todd went 3.67 in a first-round win against Todd Tutterow, knocking off Joshua Hernandez, the Round One winner, in the semifinals with another 3.67.

The finals were a bitter pill for Taylor to swallow after re-setting the E.T. and speed records he set earlier this month in Qatar.

In a first-round win, Taylor went an incredible 3.61 at 211 miles per hour, adding a second-round victory against Rickie Smith before his finals mishap.

Al-Balooshi overcame a holeshot loss in Round One with an impressive showing on Friday.

After qualifying second to Shannon Jenkins with a 3.87, Al-Balooshi went 3.90 in a first-round win and 3.86 in the semifinals.

In the finals, Al-Balooshi went a class-best 3.83, avenging his Round One loss and earning a vital victory in the process.

“We were the low for the Round One race, but we watched Bahrain Racing end up with the win,” Al-Balooshi said. “We were hungry for our first win here in Qatar.”

Al-Balooshi has posted the most eye-catching times throughout the two rounds and the win added another measure to his strong performance through two weeks.

Crediting a talented team, Al-Balooshi was excited about the victory, his first during the 2010 calendar year in either the ADRL or Arabian Series.

“We were ready to make up for last week,” Al-Balooshi said. “The car has been very consistent and my team has given me all the confidence I need.”

Hunnicutt aimed high ever since arriving in Qatar, but it was his consistency that paid dividends on Friday.

He used a 4.20 to beat PXM legend Vose in the finals, but he was right around that mark the entire day. It started with a 4.18 to beat Angie Smith in the first round, following it up with a 4.22 in a semifinal victory against T.T. Jones. Hunnicutt then split the difference with the time in the finals, which led to one of the most memorable moments of his career.

“I just want to be consistent and run my race,” Hunnicutt said. “I have an idea of what I want to run and that has been working for me.”

It also keeps Hunnicutt on pace to accomplish his big goal for the eight-race season at QRC.

“If I can, I want to be in the finals of every race over here,” Hunnicutt said. “That’s the goal.”

Round Three will take place Dec. 16-17 at QRC, with qualifying set to start on Dec. 16 in Qatar.

Jenkins Will Take Runner-Up Finish - For Now

Shannon Jenkins will take a second-place finish for now, so long as the end result is different.

The Pro Nitrous standout has had enough of runner-up finishes in 2010 after taking second in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) World Championships to Al-Anabi Racing teammate Burton Auxier.

That was enough motivation for Jenkins to come prepared to Doha, Qatar for Round One of the Arabian Drag Racing League, which took place last weekend at Qatar Race Club. He had his ’68 Camaro ready for the first of the eight-race series, earning the top qualifying spot and posting the best E.T. of the weekend in the class.

But in the finals, Jenkins fell to Khalid Mohamad of Bahrain Racing, leaving Jenkins and his team with some work to do to meet the end goal of winning the PN title in the Arabian Series.

“We were pretty confident for the final round, after having qualified No. 1 with a 3.89 and running a 3.87 during the second round of eliminations, but we shook in the final round and just didn’t get the job done like we had hoped to do,” Jenkins said.

It was far from a total loss, as Jenkins’ runner-up finish was the result of many long, hard hours due to testing and preparing his ’68 Camaro for competition.

“We tested all week to make sure this race car was 100 percent going into this first race,” Jenkins said. “Our week of testing was decent. We struggled a little bit in the beginning, but we were able to learn a few things and begin to turn this hot rod around and make good, solid runs down the race track.

“I just owe all the credit to my team; Jimmy Kane, Heath Jenkins, Jerry Elliott, Donnie Price, Steve Helkin, and Patrick Noland. Also to Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani and the people of Qatar for allowing us to be apart of the Al-Anabi Racing team and the opportunity to come over here and race.”

Not only will Jenkins and his team be trying to get his car into the winner’s circle for Round 2, but also an Al-Anabi car driven by Mahana Al-Naimi.

He was driving a ‘70.5 Camaro during qualifying when it went into severe tire shake and broke an axle halfway down the track. It resulted in a nasty crash, but Al-Naimi avoided any serious injuries.

“Mahana was taken to the hospital to be checked out, but he is going to be just fine,” Jenkins said. “He is adjusting to this car very well, but just had a little bit of bad luck.”

As for the second race this weekend, Al-Naimi will be back behind the wheel of a Pro Nitrous car, though it won’t be the same one. For this upcoming race, he will be driving a ’68 Camaro formerly driven by the 2009 ADRL PN World Champion, Khalid Al-Balooshi.

There were a few other new faces on the Jenkins and Al-Anabi team this year as well. Although many familiar faces returned to Qatar for the Arabian Series, several new ones, included David Reher, have proved to be valuable resources for Jenkins.

“This was the first time David Reher has come over here and he is a very important part of our team and we were very thrilled to have him over here,” Jenkins said. “He very much enjoyed himself.”

When asked what was expected in the remaining seven races, Jenkins was quick to respond. As expected, Jenkins aimed high.

“Gain as many points as possible, as quick as we can, so that we are on top after the eight and final race. Every round is crucial for us, but we just have to take it one round at a time,” Jenkins said. “I have high expectations of our team going into the second race of the ADRL at QRC next weekend, so we will see what happens and hopefully we will get our first win of the season.”

Schweigert Breaks Track Record, Rolls To Round 1 PXM Victory In Qatar

DOHA, QATAR (December 3, 2010) – Terry Schweigert was so close so many times in 2010, finishing as a runner-up in four different Pro Extreme Motorcycle races in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL).

After Friday, Schweigert likes this side of the winner’s circle much better.

In Round One of the Arabian Drag Racing League at Qatar Race Club, Schweigert was impressive, breaking into the win column by running a 4.14 in the finals to soak in the spoils of his first championship moment in either the ADRL or the Arabian Series.

“This is just incredible. What an awesome experience,” said Schweigert, who finished second in points in the ADRL in 2010. “This is just unbelievable. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“We’re just sitting in our room with the trophy on our mantle. This trip is already worth it.”

Seven races remain in the Arabian series, but Schweigert is already beaming after just one week.

The same can be said for Pro Extreme standout Joshua Hernandez, who won his debut race in Qatar as part of the Bahrain Racing team.

He pedaled to the finish in the finals, knocking off Bahrain teammate and racing legend Rickie Smith in the finals.

Al-Anabi Racing driver Shannon Jenkins lost in the Pro Nitrous finals, falling to a local racer in the Arabian racing scene.

Schweigert was consistent over the entire two-day race, qualifying in the top spot with a 4.19 on Thursday.

A day later, the Canadian standout was even better.

In a first round win, Schweigert ran a 4.18 and posted an identical time in the second round to meet fellow ADRL PXM rider Rob Hunnicutt in the final.

Schweigert finished off a flawless Friday with a 4.14, posting a personal-best 60-foot time of 1.01. The run also gave Schweigert the new PXM record for the Arabian series.

“The finals was a good race and the bike is just running good, consistent numbers,” Schweigert said. “It went straight and it was just great. We’re all very, very happy. I definitely consider this an ADRL win for sure. It’s just incredible.”

Even Hunnicutt wasn’t overly disappointed, finishing runner-up in a 12-bike field that was pared to eight for eliminations.

Hunnicutt went 4.23 in first and second round wins, but couldn’t chase down Schweigert in the finals.

“We were down to our last motor, so I was cautious with the tune-up. I didn’t want to have two motors to fix and possibly not run in the next race (next week),” Hunnicutt said. “They made a great call to beat me. He won the first battle, but I’m sure there will be more. Hopefully I will have that green win light in my lane next time.”

Both already marveled about the experience, as did Hernandez, who won the PX points race in the ADRL in 2010.

With Qatar getting awarded the World Cup for 2022, everyone noticed a festive atmosphere around Qatar Race Club.

It became even more of a celebration for Hernandez after he qualified third with a 3.77 in a loaded field and then beat PX newcomer – and former NHRA Top Fuel standout – J.R. Todd to advance to the finals.

“You could feel the excitement in the air all around,” Hernandez said.

Smith also made a favorable impression in his new PX car by finishing second.

Jenkins had to make due with a runner-up finish in Pro Nitrous after qualifying in the No. 1 spot.

“We were pretty confident for the final round, after having qualified No. 1 and running a 3.87 during second round of eliminations, but we shook in the final round and just didn’t get the job done like we had hoped to do,” Jenkins said.

“However, we come away with some points and that is what's so important to our team.”

Round Two of the eight-race series will begin on Thursday at Qatar Race Club, with eliminations to follow for the second race on Friday.

Tutterow Seizes Lead In PX After First Day At Qatar Race Club

DOHA, QATAR (December 2, 2010) – Todd Tutterow’s duties last year in the Arabian Drag Racing League only included tuning a car.

His first foray into driving in Qatar is quickly off to a fine start.

The 2009 Pro Extreme World Champion in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) is the leader after two rounds of qualifying on Thursday during Round 1 of the eight-race series in the Arabian Drag Racing League at Qatar Race Club.

In a loaded field, Tutterow took an early lead in Pro Extreme, going 3.74, which comes on the heels of going as quick as 3.68 in what was a productive test session.

“I’m staying pretty busy, but things have been good,” said Tutterow, who is also tuning the car of PX driver Bader Ali. “We’ve been doing a lot of testing and hopefully it works out (well).”

Due to weather and a crash in Pro Nitrous, only two qualifying sessions were completed on Thursday in all classes. Racers will get a third session on Friday before eliminations begin for Round 1.

Following Tutterow in Pro Extreme was Rickie Smith, who went 3.84 in his first official pass in a brand-new Bahrain Racing PX Camaro. KH Al-Thani was close behind with a 3.89.

In fourth was another driver making his debut, as former NHRA Top Fuel driver J.R. Todd went 3.91 in his first pass in a new ’57 Chevy.

The rest of the field struggled to get down the track, which was also a similar theme in Pro Nitrous.

Shannon Jenkins was one of few who didn’t shake the tires, as the Al-Anabi Racing driver shot to the top spot with an impressive 3.92.

Before leaving for Qatar, the legendary “Iceman” was excited about the opportunity to race in the Arabian Series.

“I can’t wait for it,” Jenkins said. “I can race all year.”

In Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Terry Schweigert has the top after two sessions with a strong run of 4.19.

Rob Hunnicutt is in third with a 4.32.

Tutterow arrived in Qatar early to get some extra testing and it appears to have paid off in the early part of the season.

But Tutterow knows things won’t be easy in a strong field that also includes Frankie Taylor, who went a remarkable 3.61 in a testing session earlier this week, Alex Hossler, Joshua Hernandez, Von Smith and Ellis Vial.

“The competition is going to be real good. It’s pretty amazing, really,” Tutterow said. “The competition is always exciting and it’s great to be racing all these people.

“But I feel good. We’ve got as good of a chance as anyone.”

Tutterow is also impressed by the reaction of the crowd and how the Arabian Series has grown in popularity over the past year.

“It’s gained a lot from last year and it’s getting real big for sure,” Tutterow said. “I’d say it’s more than three times as big as it was even at the end of last year.”

With all the extra eyes on QRC, it should make for an even more intense atmosphere.

That shouldn’t bother Smith, who is simply trying to get acclimated to driving a Pro Extreme car.

“If we can get through this first race, get some points and get some data, we’ll be in good shape,” Smith said. “It’s a challenge, but we’re up for it and hopefully we will do well.”

Al-Balooshi and Switzer Ready For Action in Qatar

DOHA, QATAR (Dec. 1, 2010) - The Beast from the Middle East is back and ready for Round 1 in the Arabian Drag Racing League Series.

Khalid Al-Balooshi and Team Speedtech have settled in at the Qatar Race Club (QRC) and are ready to do battle with the other top Pro Nitrous teams on the grounds.

Renowned nitrous tuner Brandon Switzer leads Team Speedtech. Switzer will be tuning the Jerry Bickel-built 68 Camaro with Khalid Al-Balooshi behind the wheel.

This Camaro won best appearing car for its beautiful paint job done by Jeff Hoskins at the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) LenMar Motorsports World Finals VI last month. Al-Balooshi, the 2009 PN World Champion in the ADRL, debuted the new Camaro at Rockingham Dragway for Dragstock ViI in September.

Switzer and Al-Balooshi have been together for the last part of the 2010 race season in the United States and have traveled across the pond to Doha, Qatar for the ADRL Series. With the time to get the car ready for Qatar, Switzer and the talented Al-Balooshi both have high hopes for the eight-race series this winter.

"This team really started to come together the last few races over in the States," Switzer said. "We have been working non-stop to get ready for the race season over here."

Round 1 of the Arabian Drag Racing League starts today, and is the first of three consecutive race weeks in December. Teams have been testing all week in what is a loaded Pro Nitrous field in Qatar.

The weather has been beautiful and the track has been prepped to perfection, meaning there should be plenty of quick times from the likes of Al-Balooshi, Shannon Jenkins, 2010 PN World Champion Burton Auxier and several other talented drivers overseas.
Al-Balooshi knows the competition will be tough, but he is excited to get started.

"I have all the confidence in my team," said Khalid Al-Balooshi. "We have been testing this week and the track is good. We have tried some new things. We have ran good numbers and we have shook some, but I have extreme confidence in Brandon and my team, no problem!"

Al-Balooshi is just excited about the opportunity to be racing in Qatar again.

"We have a tough job ahead of us this race season," Al-Balooshi said. "There are some of the best Pro Nitrous teams running over here, so there will not be much room for error."

Switzer has liked what he has seen thus far.

"I am so proud of Al-Balooshi and of his confidence in driving the car. He has not skipped a beat since the World Finals in October," Switzer said. "I want to say thank you to Sheikh Khalid Al Thani, the Country of Qatar and the ADRL for inviting us over here and giving us somewhere to race this off-season."

Smith's Latest Trick is Driving New Pro Extreme Car

Rickie Smith has never shied away from challenges.

This one has been waiting since March, but Smith is just now getting the chance to tackle it.

As expected, the Pro Nitrous legend is chomping at the bit.

Smith’s latest trick will include driving a brand new ’69 Camaro in the Pro Extreme class of the Arabian Drag Racing League.

Smith will debut the new car on Thursday for the start of the eight-race season and “Trickie” is excited for what lies ahead.

“It’s going to be different, that’s for sure,” Smith said. “We’ll have to see where this all goes. It’s going to be different.

“I’m used to running 194-195 miles per hour and I’m going to be going 204 or 205 in this thing. That’s a major move.”

But it’s not one Smith or his Bahrain Racing team is backing down from.

The PX Camaro was built by Jerry Bickel Race Cars and he said that Bahrain Racing made plans to have Smith, who finished atop the points standings in Pro Nitrous in 2010 in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL), drive the car in Qatar as far back as March.

“(Bahrain Racing) wanted me to bring my nitrous car, but they built the (PX) car and they planned for me to drive it all along,” Smith said. “They wanted me to concentrate on that and that’s fine with me.

“It’s going to be a different challenge, but I’m up for it and we’ll see what happens.”

What makes this all even more interesting is that Smith estimates he has less than 10 passes in a Pro Extreme car in his racing career.

That will make for a steep learning curve in Qatar, especially considering Smith’s first time down the track in the car will be just two days before a three-race stretch on consecutive weeks (Dec. 2-3, Dec. 9-10, Dec. 16-17).

“It’s going to be a chore to get everything done,” Smith said. “We’ll really get after it Wednesday and hopefully we can do well.

“If we can get through that first race, get some points and get some data, we’ll be in good shape. We’ll have the weekend and that whole week after that, so the biggest thing is just getting through this first race.”

Rick Hickman will be working on the motor on the PX car, while Smith will focus on the driving and the suspension.

The longtime racing legend will surely get the hang of the Pro Extreme car quickly and should provide plenty of highlights for a Bahrain Racing team that also includes PX standout Joshua Hernandez.

“Hopefully we can do well,” Smith said.

As for Pro Nitrous, Smith won’t be running in the class in Qatar.

But he will be plenty busy in the Pro Nitrous division. He will be tuning a brand new nitrous car that has never even been tested, meaning Smith won’t have much free time overseas.

“I’ll be calling the shots for that car,” Smith said. “I’ll be busy, but that’s okay.”

As for 2011, Smith isn’t sure what direction – or what class – he will choose.

After winning three straight ADRL races in 2010 and finishing as the points leader, he hinted at retirement.

But that doesn’t seem to be the likely destination for the ultra-competitive Smith.

“I’ll talk to (Bahrain Racing) and see, but I’m looking at a couple different things,” Smith said. “I put an automatic in my (PN) car and I liked it.

“We’ll see what happens.”

Hossler Excited About Magical Return To Qatar

O’FALLON, MO (November 22, 2010) – It doesn’t take much prodding to find out Alex Hossler’s feelings on racing in the Arabian Drag Racing League in Qatar. In fact, the colorful American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Extreme standout is more than willing to share his very fond feelings of competing at the Qatar Racing Club.
“I don’t really know how to explain other than to say it’s magical,” Hossler said. “It’s a beautiful place, the people are friendly and it really is the way to race in my opinion.” Hossler didn’t stop there, either.

“The facility is beautiful. The track is as good as it gets anywhere on the planet and you’re treated like royalty no matter who you are,” he added. “They take good care of you and it really spoils you so much you can’t wait to go back.”

Hossler was one who couldn’t wait, which is why he jumped at the chance to return for a second stint in Qatar.
He will once again race in Pro Extreme, with the eight-race schedule at Qatar Race Club starting on Dec. 2-3.
Of course, finishing as the runner-up in Pro Extreme last year likely helped the decision, but Hossler remains fascinated by the racing environment in Qatar.

He’s also just as impressed with the reception he received by the growing number of racing fans.
“They are the friendliest, most welcoming people you could imagine,” Hossler said. “It’s a magical place that is just beautiful. What a great opportunity to go to a wonderful place to do your favorite hobby.”
Hossler will return to Qatar with a different look in many respects.

The easiest to spot – at least those who saw Hossler finish second in the ADRL points race and win the Hardee’s Gateway Drags III in 2010 – will be a new wrap that was just recently completed on Hossler’s Camaro.
The colorful new design replaces the all-black look and Hossler joked his car now “looks like a real race car.”
Behind the scenes, the changes are numerous as well.
Hossler has parted ways with former crew chief Chris Duncan, and Hossler has turned to Rob Flynn to fill the position.

Flynn has been crew chief for the likes of NHRA standouts Kenny and Brandon Bernstein, and Flynn will bring assistants Mike and Rob Guger into the mix as well.
Hossler said the split between he and Duncan was amicable, and he’s simply looking forward to what the future holds with Flynn.

“To make a long story short, Chris and I were both presented opportunities for the betterment of each of us, we shook hands and decided to pursue them,” Hossler said.
“Rob has 30 years of experience tuning cars. He’s very professional and I’m very excited to go down the track in something he’s tuned.”

Everything will have to be on point if Hossler has any chance of repeating his runner-up finish or even moving up a spot to claim the championship.
Featuring the likes of Joshua Hernandez and Frankie Taylor for the first time, the PX field in Qatar will be extremely loaded.

Other drivers include Todd Tutterow, KH Al-Thani, Von Smith, Mike Stawicki and Ellis Vial, meaning nothing will come easy for Hossler, or anyone for that matter.

“When I heard the list of who was going, I expect to have eight events of the ‘Battle For The Belts.’ Every guy who is going is top-notch. Every round is going to be like a finals round,” Hossler said.

“Nobody is going to be a slouch there. It’s going to be a star-studded cast and I’m honored to be part of it.”
That part still hasn’t gotten old for Hossler and he doubts it ever will.

He considers it a privilege to be racing in the ADRL and Arabian Drag Racing League, where he’s made a name for himself competing against his racing idols.

Minus a forgettable first-round exit at the Speedtech “Battle For The Belts” in October, Hossler had a phenomenal 2010, winning twice in the ADRL and finishing second in the points.

Still, from time to time, Hossler is still amazed he has more than held his own against the top drivers in the world.
“Really, it’s an honor. Lining up next to Frankie or Josh or any of the guys, it wasn’t that long ago I was reading about them and thinking how cool they were,” Hossler said. “To be able to line up next to them and sometimes have a shot at winning, it’s like a dream come true.”

Hossler Wins PX Title in Qatar Round 3

DOHA, QATAR (Jan. 8, 2010)—Canton, IL’s Alex Hossler (left) made his long trip to Qatar pay off with the Pro Extreme win in Round 3 of the Arabian Drag Racing League’s 2009-10 season, posting a holeshot win over Tennessee’s Von Smith in the PX final round at the Qatar Race Club.

In Pro Nitrous, newly crowned American Drag Racing League Pro Nitrous World Champion Khalid Al-Balooshi made it two-in-a-row with a his win over Al-Anabi Racing teammate Burton Auxier, who turned on the dreaded red light in the final round.

Hossler, the current American Drag Racing League Pro Extreme points leader, left with a .047 reaction time in his Chris Duncan-built ‘70 Camaro to Smith’s .068, allowing his 3.77-seconds pass at 202.52 mph to defeat the quicker and faster 3.76 at 206.01 put together by Smith in his Barwa-backed ‘68 Camaro.

Auxier, from Dixie, West Virginia, left five-thousandths of a second too soon, negating his 3.95 at 191.35 that easily would have beaten Al-Balooshi’s off-the-pace 5.20 effort at just 96.37 mph.

Schweigert Ready To Milk Qatar Experience For All It's Worth

Terry Schweigert is still having a tough time believing all of this is happening.

But until someone pinches the talented American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Extreme Motorcycle rider and wakes him from this wonderful dream, he’s going to keep enjoying the moment.

Schweigert and the DTM Performance PXM team are heading to Qatar for the 2010-11 Arabian Drag Racing League season, presenting an opportunity that still amazes Schweigert.

“I’m so excited and grateful for this opportunity to see and experience Qatar and the Middle East, but more than anything to race my bike and compete in the Arabian Drag Racing League,” Schweigert said. “I still don’t believe we are going but it sure looks like it’s happening.”

Engine builder and tuner Dan Wagner believes it is happening, mostly because he’s been up to his neck in packing bikes, tools, spares, etc. for the long trip. DTM racer Dave Norris will also be on board for the 8-race season at the sleek modern Qatar Racing Club.

The duo will be joined by Rob Hunnicutt and T.T. Jones, along with a number of other talented riders from Qatar for the series that runs through February. Talented PXM standout Ashley Owens may also venture overseas for the January and February sessions.

“Two weeks of packing up,” Wagner said. “But with these good bikes and spares, we don’t expect to be shipping anything home. These bad boys will surely sell and we’ll have to build new ones for the 2011 series back here in the States.”

Immediately after Thanksgiving, Wagner, Schweigert and crew flew to Doha for the December 2-3 opening round.

“This was never even a dream, it’s totally unbelievable,” said Schweigert, who is a third-generation Canadian dairy farmer. “I asked Dan and his wife Kathie if we could pull this off, because it’s a lot of work and lot of time logistically. Kathie told me if I really want to go, we’d do it.”

Wagner said the team has big goals over the winter as well. Schweigert had a strong 2010 ADRL season, finishing second in the points and taking runner-up in several races. He was also a No. 1 qualifier for an event.

“Our goal is to win every race,” Wagner said. “But I guess everybody has that goal, and there’s gonna be lots of bikes there.”

In addition to Schweigert, Norris, Hunnicutt and Jones, Matt Smith and Lance Hines will also be taking on all comers in Qatar.

Wagner has made the trip before, so he has experience tuning to the atmospheric conditions there.

“The bikes seem to tune the same. It’s at sea level or right around there, and the air’s not really any better or worse. They run in the evening and the track is awesome,” Wagner said. “There’s cool dry air and awesome track—we should be able to run pretty good numbers. I’m really looking forward to getting out there.”

Although Schweigert dearly loves his British Columbia farm, he’s looking forward to Qatar’s winter climate and extending the season with his adopted racing family.

“Kathie and Dan are incredible friends,” Schweigert said. “They’re awesome! Dan is called Dan the Man not because it rhymes, but because he IS the Man. The guy is a rocket scientist! Ask any Pro Extreme Motorcycle guy and they will agree, in addition to being humble, honest, and a whole lot of fun to be around. The time and energy he puts into
this program is just crazy.

“I couldn’t do this without the support of my family. My sons and employees are doing a great job taking care of Road End Farms while I’m racing. I’m very proud to be a Canadian racing overseas and will do my best to represent my country.”

Von Smith is fresh off of one championship

But the talented Pro Modified driver already has his sights sets on another championship, this time on overseas soil. Smith, crew chief and the Barwa Racing team is set to compete for a championship in the Pro Extreme class of the Arabian Drag Racing League, which starts on Dec. 2-3 in the country of Qatar.

The quest will be done in a new 1968 Pro Extreme Camaro that is sure to turn heads. It was recently finished by Tim McAmis Race Cars and the sparkling finished product will debut in Qatar.

This title chase comes just a week after Smith and his team celebrated a Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series title. Just for a moment, Smith reflected on a spectacular season that included consistent runs in the 5-second range at more than 240 miles per hour. “I have to give credit where it’s due, and from start to finish this Barwa Racing team has given me an incredible race car,” Smith said. “We had a few trials and tribulations to deal with throughout the season, but this team’s commitment never waivered.
“We couldn’t be happier that we were able to deliver a world championship to Sheikh Khalid for Al-Anabi Racing, the people of Qatar, and Barwa. We couldn’t do this without them.”

The new Pro Extreme car is sure to impress everyone in Qatar.
Among the standout features of the car is an extravagant paint design by SD Enterprises, which features a mural of the city of Qatar on each side of the car.
The appealing paint design isn’t the only noteworthy aspect of the car, either.
The ’68 Camaro is the first of its kind to feature the innovative and exciting TMRC billet aluminum housing.

Sheikh Khalid Al-Thani, Smith, Howard Moon Racing and Barwa Racing are excited to debut all of the new aspects of the Camaro as well. The car has already been delivered to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and is slated to board a plane to Qatar on Monday. The talented Smith will arrive in the racing-hungry country shortly thereafter, ready to tackle the eight-race Arabian Drag Racing League schedule. Racing will take on place on three consecutive weeks in December (Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17) and a two-race slate in January (Jan. 6-7, 13-14) before the season concludes with what will be a memorable three-race finish in February (Feb. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18). With several drivers from the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) competing in the Pro Extreme class, as well as a host of other top-notch competitors, there will be significant challenges for Smith and his PX team.
But, as he’s already proven with the NHRA GSA Pro Mod Championship in 2010, Smith will be prepared and ready for the challenge. With his new ’68 Camaro set to debut in Qatar as well, Smith promises to be even more motivated to win.

Al-Anabi Racing's Larry Dixon Earns 2010 NHRA TOP FUEL CROWN

The Top Fuel championship went according to form with Dixon clinching the title with his first-round win over Mike Strasburg.

“I’ve never had so much excitement for a first-round win in my life,” said Dixon, who drives the Al-Anabi dragster for team manager and renowned tuner Alan Johnson, crew chief Jason McCulloch and team owner Sheik Khalid Al-Thani.

“If you want to win in this sport you have to surround yourself with talent and I believe we have the best in the business,” Dixon said. “(Alan), he has his own team again, so I’m very proud of him. And I know if (his brother) Blaine (Johnson) was still here, he’d be the one talking to you right now.”

Dixon entered eliminations with an 82-point lead over Schumacher and the rival U.S. Army team, which needed to win the race, set the national record and have Dixon lose in the first round. Any hopes of another Tony Schumacher miracle – he famously won the 2006 and 2007 titles on the last pass of the season – were put to rest early with Dixon’s first-round win.

Dixon had one of the most impressive seasons in NHRA Top Fuel history, posting an impressive 12 wins in 12 final round appearances and holding the points lead for an amazing seven months.

He started the season off right, winning the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, the opening race of the 2010 season, then following it up quickly with back-to-back wins in Houston and Las Vegas. He finished the regular season with nine wins, five No. 1 qualifiers, and the points lead heading into the Countdown to the Championship. Once in the Countdown, he showed his dominance yet again, picking up three wins and three No. 1 qualifiers.

His first round win against Mike Strasburg at the final race of the season, the Auto Club NHRA Finals, was just enough to clinch his third career Full Throttle world championship in Top Fuel.

Von Smith Scores NHRA Pro MOD World Title In Barwa Racing Camaro

Driving ace Von Smith and crew chief Howard Moon are no strangers to success in drag racing, both having secured multiple world championships in years passed, yet both will readily admit that securing the inaugural Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series title is as monumental of an achievement as either have to their credit.

“Just being the first one, that sums it all up,” says Smith, checking in from the team’s race shop in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “I think it’s safe to say everyone will always remember who won the first championship with Pro Modified as an official pro category in the NHRA, and we couldn’t be more proud to have been the ones to do it. That said, we’re as much honored to have had the opportunity in the first place, as we are anything. The competition in 2010 was as fierce as we’ve ever seen it and I believe the class, in terms of both professionalism and performance, is at an all-time high.

“I have to give credit where it’s due, and from start to finish this Barwa Racing team has given me an incredible race car,” continues Smith. “We had a few trials and tribulations to deal with throughout the season, but this team’s commitment never waivered. We couldn’t be happier that we were able to deliver a world championship to Sheikh Khalid for Al-Anabi Racing, the people of Qatar, and Barwa. We couldn’t do this without them.”

Their place in history was cemented by merely qualifying for the recently completed NHRA Las Vegas Nationals, though as Smith will attest, it wasn’t something that could be taken for granted.

“Going into Vegas, our goal wasn’t simply to qualify, clinch the championship and then just take it easy,” says Smith. “We wanted to leave an impression, make our mark and win the race – winning the championship in the process. Honestly, we would have liked to had sealed the deal in Charlotte, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Smith claimed the $50,000 championship prize when he took the tree in the opening round of eliminations, and having qualified in the No. 6 spot with a 5.982-second, 243.06 mph blast, was surely in the hunt to win the event. Despite leaving with the starting line advantage over Jay Payne in the quarterfinals, tire shake brought the 2010 season to a close a bit prematurely for the Barwa Racing team, but they still left the property with the world championship.

Per the Pro Modified category’s newfound “official” status, Von Smith and the Barwa Racing team will be attending the upcoming NHRA Full Throttle Awards Ceremony following the completion of the NHRA season this coming weekend in Pomona.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to be a part of such a grand event,” says Smith of the invitation-only black-tie event in Los Angeles, California. “Having been a part of the Pro Modified category for quite some time now, I couldn’t be more excited to see our class recognized at this level and be able to perform on the grandest stage in all of drag racing in the NHRA.”

2010 Class Update for 2011 ADRL Season

Due to conflicting schedule dates the Extreme 10.5 Class will start its season Jan. 6-7, 2011 during Round 4 of the Arabian Drag Racing League Series and will continue through Round 8. All other classes will start the series during Round 1 Dec. 2-3, 2010.

Dixon Gets Fourth MAC Tools U.S. Nationals Win at “BIG GO!"

Larry Dixon showed why he was No. 1 in the Top Fuel point standings heading into the Countdown to the Championship when he held off Cory McClenathan to pick up his fourth win in Indianapolis and 10th win of the season at the recently completed Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis.

Dixon dominated the class all weekend, earning his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season and mowing through the competition on Monday’s eliminations.

“This means so much for me personally, from my dad racing here and all of the years with ‘Snake’ (Don Prudhomme) and how much it meant to him and now racing for Sheikh Khalid and especially the Johnson family for all they sacrificed at this event,” said Dixon. “And for Jason (McCulloch) to win his first Indy as a crew chief? I’m jacked up for him.”

With his win Dixon was able to build a 46-point lead over second place driver Cory McClenathan and an 87-point lead over defending world champion and third place driver Tony Schumacher.

“As big as winning a championship is, this is the one everybody wants to win. Winning one is unbelievable, but winning four is little incredible. It was a great job by (crew chief) Jason McCulloch, (team manager) Alan Johnson and everybody on the Al-Anabi team. Sheik Khalid was in the house, so it’s great to win with him here. The whole Johnson family was here, too, with Everett, Agnes and Pam. They sacrificed a lot at this race track, and I am very happy to win for them, too. Everybody’s talking about Tony (Schumacher) and me this season, but it seemed like we raced Cory just about every round in qualifying and then in the final. He’s not gonna go away. That’s a great car and a great team, and we know we’ll have to contend with them for the rest of the season."

Dixon Earns Impressive 7th Victory!

NHRA Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon bounced back from his first-round loss in Bristol one week prior to grab his seventh win of the season, the most of any driver in the category, at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

Dixon raced to the No. 1 qualifier on Saturday – his fourth for the year – then drove past Top Fuel pilots Troy Buff, Doug Foley, Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown en route to his 55th career win. His matchup with defending world champion and Top Fuel rival Tony Schumacher in the semifinals was the sixth time the pair have met in the semifinals this season. Dixon holds the lead in semifinal matchups over Schumacher with four wins. His seventh win of the season was also his seventh final round appearance for the year.

“Seven for seven, I feel fortunate,” said Dixon. “There have been a lot of tight races. That one there was real tight. You could race that one again and get different outcomes. I heard Antron (Brown) at the start and saw him for a bit, and then he kind of faded. I kept looking for some win light, and it came on in our lane. That was just a great drag race, and it’s nice to be on the right side of a tight drag race.”

According to Dixon, it surely wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“We had a great weekend in Norwalk. On paper, it might have looked smooth, but the amount of work the guys put in after Bristol to being a better racehorse in Norwalk really paid off. They made it look smooth, and they did a great job again. It’s neat to see the team go out there, look at the conditions, make adjustments and have the car respond the way they want it to. For a racer, that’s like the perfect world, and it was really awesome to see the Al-Anabi crew at work.”

Von Smith, Barwa Racing, Have Strangehold on NHRA Pro MOD Points Battle

It ain’t over 'til it’s over, but if Von Smith wins again, it’ll certainly be close. With two straight wins entering this weekend’s event at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park, June 24-27, the driver of the Barwa/Al-Anabi ’68 Camaro has a chance to take complete control of the points race in the first-year NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

“We’re hoping to take the positives from the last two races and carry it into this weekend and win another one,” said Smith, who has three wins and a 92-point lead through the first six races of the 10-race Pro Mod season.

This weekend’s race marks the third in a row that the Pro Mod drivers will be in action, the most taxing stretch of the schedule for the drivers in the first-year series, but one that Smith welcomes.

“The more we race back to back, the better it is for me and the team, just staying jelled,” Smith said. “We’re very fortunate that we had the Englishtown race and then we came home; that just helped us logistics-wise to come home. I’ve always said the more I can race back to back, the better we race, and it’s showing that that’s the way it is.”

The win in Bristol was his third this season – the Oak Ridge, Tenn., native won at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals in Madison in May and the NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown in June -- in the first six events, and it has given him a commanding 92-point lead over Danny Rowe and a 97-point lead over Jay Payne.

“While I like the lead, I want to have a bigger lead leaving Norwalk,” he said. “It’s not [comfortable], if you listen to [the other teams], we heard [in Bristol], ‘You win this, and it’s done,’ and it’s not even close to done. On this team, [the mind-set is] 'Keep your head down.' The lead could be taken up in one race by us not qualifying.”

The last time thta Smith was in Norwalk, in 2007, he advanced to the Top Alcohol Funny Car final round in the Centre Pointe Collision Camaro and finished as runner-up to current Funny Car racer Bob Tasca III.

Though he would certainly like a third straight win, a repeat of that runner-up this weekend would put him in a great position heading into the two-month break before Indy. After this weekend’s event, the Pro Mod drivers will not race again until Labor Day weekend at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the first of the three races to end the season – they will finish with races in Charlotte and Las Vegas.

I’m not crazy about [the break],” Smith said. “But hopefully, at least we’re in a good position going into it.”

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, and ’68 Firebirds as well as late-model cars, the Pro Mod Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.

K.H. Earns Victory at ADRL U.S. Drags III

This weekend’s American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Speedtech U.S. Drags III marked only the second ADRL race of KH Al-Thani’s career, but in a Pro Extreme class loaded with top talent on a record-breaking weekend, it was the Qatar native who proved to be the quickest learner.

Al-Thani didn’t set any time or speed records with his supercharged 1968 Camaro on the eighth mile at Virginia Motorsports Park (VMP) on Saturday, but he did emerge as the most consistent Pro Extreme competitor, knocking off Joshua Hernandez in the championship round in front of a near-capacity crowd.

Al-Thani’s Al-Anabi Racing teammate Shannon Jenkins also won in Pro Nitrous, Gary White of Titan Motorsports prevailed in the Extreme 10.5 final, Brian Gahm successfully defended his 2009 Extreme Pro Stock event title and Ashley Owens scored his second consecutive Pro Extreme Motorcycle win.

After qualifying second, Al-Thani knocked off veteran Brian Daniels, rookie Mick Snyder, and former two-time class champion Jason Scruggs to reach Hernandez, the winningest driver in Pro Extreme, in the final round.

Al-Thani turned in a strong 3.65-seconds pass at 210.60 mph to beat the 4.00 at 183.22 mph by Hernandez, who had to pedal his Fight Me MMA (mixed Martial Arts)-backed ’57 Chevy to regain traction.

Al-Thani (above, far lane), the 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League Pro Extreme champion, said having teammates like crew chief Frank Manzo and newcomers to the team, Tim and Kim Richards, were critical to his success.

“They’ve made a big difference,” Al-Thani said of the Richards’ tuning contribution. “You wouldn’t believe how many things they’ve changed on the car.”

Smith Emerges at Yet Another Title Contender in Extremely Competitive NHRA Pro MOD Series as Circuit Heads to Atlanta

COMMERCE, Ga. – Three races into the first season of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and there have been three different winners.

If that’s a trend that will continue during the remaining seven events, determining a world champion may come down to the final round of the final race of the season.

If that scenario plays out, it will be just fine with the circuit’s most recent winner and emerging title contender, veteran drag racer Von Smith, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.

With a very talented field of competitors racing for the inaugural NHRA Pro Mod crown, Smith and his peers expect nothing less than a memorable, thrilling duel to determine the champ.

Smith picked up his first official Pro Mod Wally and tossed his hat into the championship ring by winning the recent event at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis.

“I hope that’s the first of many,” Smith said after the win.

Following his St. Louis victory, Smith sits in second, one point behind series leader Kenny Lang in the Get Screened America Pro Mod Series point standings. Smith hopes to continue his advance toward the top spot during the Pro Mod portion of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, May 14-16.

After a shaky start to the season that included a DNQ at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals in Florida, Smith rebounded in Houston to post a semifinal finish at the O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals. Now that the former standout in Top Alcohol Funny Car has found the Pro Mod winner’s circle, he hopes to make it a place he visits often.

“I was talking with Howard (Moon, crew chief) and said that if we could ever get on a roll, it would be hard to knock us off,” Smith said. “I hope that is where we are now.”

Featuring the world’s fastest and most unique doorslammer cars with an extremely diverse collection of vehicles, including ’63 Corvettes, ’68 Camaros, ’67 Mustangs, ’68 Firebirds as well as late model cars, the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series offers something for every kind of hot-rodding enthusiast.

Smith says he enjoys the challenge of man-handling his Barwa / Al-Anabi Racing ’68 Camaro, which covers a quarter-mile race distance in just under six seconds at more than 250 mph.

“A typical race in this thing is one round you make it down and the other one you are turning over,” Smith said. “If you don’t do that in four rounds, you’ve done well.”

Smith says he appreciates team owner Sheik Khalid Al Thani for giving him the opportunity to compete in such a diverse and wildy-unpredictable racing adventure.

“Sheik Khalid loves the sport and you can see it from all the classes he participates in,” Smith said. “It’s a dream come true for us; it has really worked out well. We want to get back on track. We’ve had our backs against the wall for some time.”

In addition to Smith, other pre-race favorites in the category are series points leader Lang, who won the season-opener at Gainesville Raceway, Houston winner Danny Rowe, and several other veteran racers who have competed in multiple NHRA classes, including Jay Payne, Melanie Troxel and Troy Coughlin. Others to watch include Roger Burgess, Ray Commisso, Burton Auxier, Joe Baker, Mike Knowles and Ed Hoover.

• SCHEDULE: Get Screened America qualifying sessions are scheduled for 3:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on May 14 and the final qualifying session is at 1:15 p.m. on May 15. The first round of eliminations begins May 15 at 4 p.m. Pro Mod eliminations will continue on Sunday, May 16, starting at approximately 2 p.m.

OFFICIAL KH STORE OPENS ONLINE!

The Official Al-Anabi Racing/KH Store is now open! Click here to check out the available shirts and hats for the Al-Anabi Racing teams fielded by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani.

Al-Anabi's K.A. Balooshi Bags Semifinal Finish in Blown Alcohol Debut

(3-16-10) GAINESVILLE, Florida – No one would have been surprised if the first few events of the 2010 Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series were a little rough for the newly formed Al-Anabi Racing Pro Modified team. Led by veteran Pro Stock tuning minds Jeff Perley and Justin Elkes, Arabian Gulf Region standout driver K.A. Balooshi ventured into uncharted waters in his first competition outing at the controls of a supercharged, methanol burning Pro Mod. With only a few days testing to use as prior experience, the team rolled into the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals with realistic expectations.

Down to only two qualifying sessions due to one being scrapped by rain, the Al-Anabi Racing team knew they’d have to make the most of their first on-track effort of the weekend. It wasn’t meant to be, though, as the slick maroon ’68 Camaro left hard but drove into tire shake, forcing the veteran driver to abort the run. Their backs officially against the wall, Balooshi and company went up for the last-chance qualifying session on Saturday morning with merely getting into the 16-car field as their primary objective, and a stunning 5.925-second, 244.29mph shot more than did the job, catapulting the team to the No. 6 spot out of 25 entries.

Paired with No. 10 qualifier Tony Pontieri in the opening round of eliminations, Balooshi utilized a more than one-tenth-of-a-second advantage on the starting line to take the holeshot win with a 5.916 at 244.03mph over Pontieri’s quicker but losing 5.877/246.30mph combination.

In the second round, though, Balooshi lead the way from stripe to stripe, ousting Jay Payne with a 5.877 at 245.72mph to advance to the semifinals and face off against Kenny Lang for a shot at the inaugural NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series crown. Leaving the starting line just three-hundredths-of-a-second slower than Lang, Balooshi struggled to make up the distance throughout the length of the quarter-mile, falling short by less than two feet at the finish line with a 5.909/245.49mph effort to Lang’s slower 5.932/244.03mph run.

“To come out here, qualify in the top half of the field and go rounds,” said Elkes, co-crew chief for the Al-Anabi Racing Pro Mod, “we just couldn’t be happier. It’s a very exciting way to start the season and we gained a lot of data that should help us as we move forward.

“Balooshi did a phenomenal job, had great lights and just really did well considering these were the first full passes he’d had in this car. Everyone on the team worked well together and we’ve got a lot of confidence heading into Houston. We’re going to do a little testing beforehand, but we’re very happy with this first outing. We had a lot of help and guidance from Howard Moon and our teammates on the Barwa Racing team this weekend; they jumped right in and helped us tremendously.”

Taking on the stiff competition in the Pro Modified ranks for the first time, the former Pro Stock tuners spoke highly of their initial outing.

“It’s very exciting,” said Elkes. “Jay Payne’s 5.80 was a huge run and a sure sign of the performance requirements for Pro Mod racing at this point in time. Again, we’re just excited to be out here and we’re looking to utilize our experience in the Pro Stock ranks to build on our program, mainly in terms of consistency – we’d like to be able to make run after run within a few hundredths of one another.”

The Al-Anabi Racing Pro Modified team will return to action in the second of ten scheduled Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series events at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas on April 9-11, 2010.

Frank Manzo to Debut Al-Anabi Racing Top Alchol Funny Car in Gainesville

(3-11-10) GAINESVILLE, Florida – Beginning a new chapter in his storied drag racing career, Frank “Ace” Manzo, widely considered the most prolific Sportsman racer in the history of the National Hot Rod Association, will debut a brand new Al-Anabi Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo Top Alcohol Funny Car at this weekend’s Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, driving for Al-Anabi Racing team owner Sheikh Khalid Al Thani.

With nearly 200 national event and divisional wins to his credit, Manzo would like nothing more than to duplicate his 2009 performance in the NHRA Lucas Oil Sportsman Drag Racing Series that saw the veteran driver from Morganville, New Jersey rack up five national and five divisional event wins – a perfect season by all accounts – to clinch his 13^th Top Alcohol Funny Car championship more than two months before the season had even ended. Doing so, however, will be a tough task.

“Of course, we would like nothing more than to see the same level of success this year as we have in years past,” said Manzo, checking in from the pits of Gainesville Raceway. “It’s no easy task, though. There are a lot of great teams out here in this Top Alcohol Funny Car category and it’s going to be a challenge from the very beginning, but we really wouldn’t have it any other way. The competition, the challenge – that’s what motivates me.”

For a driver who has seen the degree of on-track success that Manzo has over the course of his drag racing career, one that spans more than three decades, it surely isn’t a desire to collect trophies that has driven him to this point.

“I think the bottom line is that I love to do this,” Manzo said. “All my life I’ve been inside a race car and while I’m thankful for all that we’ve achieved, I’ve never been satisfied. Each year I set the bar a little higher, challenge myself a little bit more.”

Never one to look back and bask in the glory of his accomplishments, Manzo maintains a sharp focus on the challenges that lie ahead.

“The points system works the same every year; we all start off at zero. All you can say is, ‘Here we go again’ and hope to do well. Sure, it’s going to be bumpy at times, but we’ll go out there and do the best we can to win every round of racing we enter into.”

Beyond the historical significance of a potential 14^th championship season, a great deal of anticipation stems from Manzo’s first event with the Al-Anabi Racing Group.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to race under the Al-Anabi banner for Sheikh Khalid and the State of Qatar and represent them in the Top Alcohol Funny Car division,” said Manzo. “We’ve spent the last few days shaking down our brand new Murf McKinney race car at West Palm Beach International Raceway here in Florida, made a few runs and did fairly well. We’d like nothing more than to go out and earn a win for Sheikh Khalid and send a trophy to him in Qatar.”

The Al-Anabi Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car team will hit the track tomorrow, Friday, March 12^th, starting with the opening two rounds of qualifying for the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals, with a final session slated for Saturday afternoon and Round 1 of eliminations that evening. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday the 14^th at 11:00 AM.

Good Test Session Boost's Matt Smith's Hopes Going to Gainesville

(3-10-10) DOHA, Qatar – When this week began, Matt Smith wasn’t certain how competitive the V-Twin motors that will power his Al-Aanbi Racing Pro Stock Motorcycle would be.

And now, one day before the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals gets underway at Gainesville, Fla., he knows.

“We had a pretty good test session in Bradenton (Fla.) and we were very happy with the way the motors ran,” said Smith, who won the 2007 Pro Stock Motorcycle championship. “The bike is running good and I was doing a good job on the (starting) lights. I had five good lights – from (a perfect) .000 to .048-second – and I never had a red light.”

Smith is eagerly awaiting Friday’s qualifying start at Gainesville Raceway. He spent much of the off-season in engine research and development, and the promising test results bolstered his hopes that he will once again be a championship contender. “We were on the dyno a lot in the last few weeks getting the motors ready to test,” he said.

“I think we could qualify in the top two or three this weekend,” he added. “I’m excited to have my own engine program again. His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani of Qatar has given me a great opportunity for a couple of years to ride for Al-Anabi Racing and promote Qatar. I’m happy to be part of it.”

Smith won four of his 10 career events en route to his championship and added four more victories in 2008, when he placed third. His first two trips to the winner’s circle came in 2006 when he wound up fifth. He rode for Don Schumacher Racing in 2009 and was fourth.

Smith’s wife Angie and Doug Horne will also be running his V-Twin power plants. Smith also serves as his Angie’s crew chief.

“The competition is still tough out there. There are some good teams. I think it’s going to be a good year for all three bikes coming out of our camp,” Smith predicted.

K.A. Balooshi Poised For NHRA Pro MOD Debut; Perley and Elkes to Lead New Al-Anabi Racing Supercharged Entry

(3-10-10) DOHA, Qatar – Having claimed two world championships in the last six months, to say Al-Anabi's Khalid Al-Balooshi is on a roll would be a tremendous understatement. The three-time Arabian Gulf Region Pro Mod world champion, 2009 American Drag Racing League Pro Nitrous titleholder, and recently crowned 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League Pro Nitrous champion has accomplished much in his racing career, but is embarking on yet another new journey within the incredibly competitive Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

On the heels of the announcement that the NHRA would begin to classify Pro Modified as an official professional category in 2010, the Al-Anabi Racing group swiftly put a plan into motion that would insert one of their most decorated native drivers into arguably the toughest doorslammer series the sport has to offer.

Leading the charge alongside driver K.A. Balooshi will be Al-Anabi Racing’s Jeff Perley and Justin Elkes, best known for their multiple championship-winning seasons with NHRA Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson, who will be calling the shots on the team’s Al-Anabi Racing supercharged Pro Modified ’68 Chevy Camaro.

“It’s been really exciting, but a tremendous amount of work,” said Elkes, checking in from South Georgia Motorsports Park where the team had spent the day testing prior to the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals. “We’ve been working 15-hour days every day for weeks now to put everything in place for this season opener in Gainesville. We’ve essentially formed our own team; we brought on some new guys – Duane Radcliff, Ricky Calloway, and Jim Robbins – spent a lot of time assembling the necessary parts and pieces, and are just now getting some track time.”

Elkes continued, “We’re heading into uncharted territory here, but we’re teamed up with Howard Moon and the Barwa Racing team, so we’re confident that we will be able to accelerate the learning curve. They’ve been instrumental in getting us up to speed and we’ll be running very similar setups going into these first few events. It’s going to take a few races, but we feel things are already going very well.”

Balooshi, who has primarily driven nitrous oxide-injected Pro Modified style cars throughout the course of his professional racing career, besides licensing in an A/Fuel Dragster early in 2009, is also taking on a new challenge with the supercharged, methanol burning combination.

“He’s doing very well,” said Elkes of Balooshi’s first day of testing behind the wheel of the new car. “He is a very good driver, so he is adapting quite quickly to the various differences between the two cars. The burnout process, staging, etc…there’s a lot of things he is doing different, but it’s going really well and we’re hoping to make a few full passes tomorrow.”

The team, which will be based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, will focus their efforts on the 2010 Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, hoping to come into stride early in the season and contend for the championship right out of the gate.

The Al-Anabi Racing Pro Modified team will get to work later this week, starting with the opening two rounds of qualifying for the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida on Friday, March 12^th, with a final session slated for Saturday afternoon and Round 1 of eliminations that evening. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday the 14^th at 11:00 AM.

KH Claims Pro Extreme World Championship at Qatar Race Club; Wins Round 7

(2-26-10) DOHA, Qatar – At the wheel of the Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme ’68 Camaro, KH earned his first Arabian Drag Racing League world championship on Friday night at the state-of-the-art Qatar Race Club outside of Doha.

After qualifying No. 1 in the unlimited Pro Extreme category for the fourth time this season (3.735/204.05), Al Thani took a bye-run in the opening round of eliminations before facing Dubai’s own Bader Ahli in what would amount to one of the most crucial rounds of KH’s driving career. While three drivers were mathematically capable of winning the championship, the semifinal round would likely decide the season champion for either Von Smith, Alex Hossler, or Al-Anabi Racing team owner and driver, KH.

When Von Smith was eliminated in the semifinals, it opened the door for KH to clinch the world title with a win over Alhli. When the amber lights flashed, both cars were side-by-side until the 330-foot mark when the Frank Manzo-tuned Al-Anabi Racing Camaro driven by KH pulled away for the victory with a 3.715-second, 207.27mph blast over Ahli’s 3.849 at 201.52mph.

“We were well aware of the different possible outcomes of the points race,” said KH during the winner’s circle celebration at Qatar Race Club, “but we knew the best approach to situations such as these is to rely only on our capabilities and not the actions of others. Winning the race would mean winning the championship, so that was our goal from the start of the event.”

Technically, the championship chase had ended, but KH and the Al-Anabi Racing team’s work could not be considered finished until the final round had been run.

Facing veteran American driver Alex Hossler in the final, KH earned the win instantaneously win his opponent left the starting line prematurely, capping an already incredible weekend with two wins.

For Frank Manzo, who himself has raced to 12 NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car world championships and 101 national event wins, this moment at the Qatar Race Club still represented a crowning achievement for the veteran driver and tuner.

"I couldn't be happier for him," said KH. "It was great to see his big smile after we got back to the pits and see the excitement on everyone's face. It was a big money, and I believe it is only the beginning for this Al-Anabi Racing team."

VON SMITH IN CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE ENTERING FINAL ROUND

(2-25-09) DOHA, Qatar – Rolling into the seventh and final round of the 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club, Von Smith and his Barwa Racing Pro Extreme ’68 Chevy Camaro have earned the No. 1 spot in the championship points standings by way of two wins and five-straight final round appearances. Their margin over Al-Anabi Racing teammate Sheikh Khalid Al Thani in second place, though, amounts to less than one competition round win.

In the two-year history of the Qatar Race Club, this will be the second straight Pro Extreme championship that may come down to the final round of the final race, and while the pressure mounts, veteran driver Von Smith and his crew-chief, the legendary Howard Moon, know this stressful situation all too well.

“We’ve been here before,” says Von Smith, trackside at the luxurious Qatar Race Club. “The key, at least in my eyes, is to treat Round 7 just like we would any other. We can’t let the championship chase change the way we would act going into any race, and our goal needs to be simply qualifying well and winning every race we’re in. Winning the race is how we’re going to win this championship, so we’ve got to take it one step at a time.

“I think that is a very attainable goal for this team,” continued Smith, who represents the Barwa Real Estate Company in the State of Qatar. “It’s hard to even describe how hard this team has been working since the last race. It’s been a round-the-clock effort from the guys, making sure I’ve got a car that is consistent and fast.”

After a successful day of testing earlier this week, Smith and team are all smiles going into today’s qualifying rounds.

“I think we’re back,” Smith adds. “Like I said, we’ve got to go out here and do what we know we can do, qualify at the top of the sheets and take it round by round, but having a car that will run the number – that makes a lot of difference in our confidence. So, I’m excited. We’ve got an incredible opportunity here to win a first championship for Barwa Real Estate and a second for Al-Anabi Racing.

“I can’t deny that it’d be nice to go into the last race of the season with the championship already locked up,” he says with a laugh, “but what fun would that be?”

KH SET FOR RUN AT PRO EXTREME WORLD TITLE IN ROUND 7

(2-24-10) DOHA, Qatar – In the running for his first world-title, KH is ready for his shot at drag racing glory this week at the Qatar Race Club during the seventh and final round of the Arabian Drag Racing League. KH, who has been in the midst of a season-long points battle with teammate Von Smith, goes into the final event of the season less than one round win out of the lead.

“Frank [Manzo, crew chief] and the Al-Anabi Racing team have been working hard to make sure we have the best car possible going into this most important final round,” says KH, from his office in downtown Doha. “With drag racing, though, there are no guarantees. It’s going to come down to who makes the best decisions on race day and me doing my job as a driver.”

Currently holding both ends of the Arabian Drag Racing League world records in the ultra-competitive Pro Extreme category, KH has dipped into the 3.6-second zone on a number of occasions and continues to encroach on the 210mph mark. While the conditions during the winter months in the Arabian Gulf Region differ dramatically from those in the Western world, with temperatures expected to reach 90-degrees on race day, the Manzo-tuned Pro Extreme ’68 Camaro will be tuned up this week, as another record-setting performance may be what it takes to earn the world championship.

“We go into this last race focused on one thing – winning the championship,” says KH, team owner and driver for Al-Anabi Racing. “We want to win the race and the championship for all the Al-Anabi Racing fans here in Qatar, but we are also excited that our teammate, Von Smith, in the Barwa Camaro is one of the teams in title contention.”

The Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme team will kick off the opening rounds of qualifying for Round 7 of the Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club this week, with the first round slated for 7:00 PM AST on Thursday, February 25^th, with a second round scheduled for 9:00 PM. A final round of qualifying will take place at 5:00 PM AST on Friday the 26^th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.

AL-ANABI'S DEL WORSHAM TALKS POMONA, LOOKING FORWARD TO PHOENIX

(2-14-09) Phoenix, Arizona – "Our Al-Anabi Toyota ran pretty well at Pomona, and I'm happy with our progress," said 25-time NHRA Nitro Funny Car winner, Del Worsham. "When conditions were cool, the car was outstanding. We only got one qualifying run in the heat of the day, and the car didn't get down the race track. On Sunday, Dickie [Venables, crew chief] made some great adjustments, and the car went right down the track in the first round. In the second round, we were running great but a mechanical failure ended our day. Still, it was nice way to start the season for the Al-Anabi Racing team."

"Having a whole year for the team to come together can make things so much better," he continued. "Last year at this time, we were all still getting to know each other. Now, we've had a year together. Dickie and Kurt [Elliot, co-crew chief] joined our team in August, and from that time, they've been making adjustments.

"Dickie and Kurt had the entire winter to massage the car and make their changes and now they're more comfortable with the parts setup and having the car built the way they want it. Now, Dickie will be able to do the things he wants to do on race day, and be even more effective."

AL-ANABI RACING'S LARRY DIXON WINS TOP FUEL TITLE AT SEASON-OPENING NHRA RACE

(2-14-09) Pomona, California – Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon won the 50^th annual NHRA Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. on Sunday; it was his 49^th career victory, and it moved him into a tie for eighth place on the NHRA career all-time wins list.

Dixon was the No. 2 qualifier at Pomona; he defeated Steve Chrisman, Brandon Bernstein, Tony Schumacher and Doug Kalitta on his way to victory Circle. It was Dixon’s sixth win in the Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Dragster.

“It’s great to win this race for His Highness Sheik Khalid Al Thani and the people of Qatar,” Dixon said. “A lot of teams race for their sponsors, but we are racing for an entire country, and we are proud to put the Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragster in victory circle. It was an honor to speak to Sheik Khalid after the race.”

The Al-Anabi Racing driver is now the points leader entering the second race of the season this weekend in Phoenix, Ariz.

“It’s been a while since I’ve led the points, and I am happy to be called the points leader even though it’s so early in the season. We got as high as second last year, but we never led the points at the end of an event weekend; it’s nice not to be chasing. We earned 122 points at Pomona, and that’s 112 more than we got at Pomona last year, but again, it’s just one race. It’s a long season, and we have only just begun what will be a 23-race battle for the championship.”

Dixon won the NHRA Top Fuel championship in 2002 and ’03. He is currently third on the NHRA’s all-time Top Fuel winner’s list with 49 victories. Joe Amato is in second place with 52 wins; Tony Schumacher tops the list with 61 wins. Dixon is tied with Don Prudhomme for eighth place on the NHRA’s all-time career victories list; Dixon was the 1995 NHRA Rookie of the Year.

ARWA RACING'S VON SMITH RETAINS POINT LEAD WITH SEMI-FINAL ROUND APPEARANCE

(2-12-09) DOHA, Qatar – With two wins under their belt in the 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League series and five-straight final round appearances, Von Smith and the Barwa Racing Pro Extreme team will roll into the final round of the seven-race series with the points lead after a strong semi-final round finish during Round 6 of the Arabian Drag Racing League series today at the Qatar Race Club.

After qualifying third amongst the best race teams the Arabian Gulf Region has to offer with a 3.773-second, 205.13mph effort, Von Smith and the Barwa Racing ’68 Chevy Camaro, tuned by Howard Moon, rolled into competition well-knowing they were in for a gunfight from start to finish. Given a bye-run in the opening round, Smith opted for the right lane and Moon used the solo lap as a free test session to prepare for a surefire meeting with serious competition in the semis.

The gatekeeper to the final round, though, was a game Alex Hossler, a fellow U.S.-native and somewhat of a rival for Smith and crew. Giving up lane choice to Hossler, the Barwa Racing ’68 Camaro rolled into the left lane for the semifinal round matchup. Unfortunately, Smith went almost immediately into violent tire shake, forcing the veteran driver to lift on the throttle and handing over the victory to Alex Hossler and the Duncan Race Cars team who posted an impressive 3.774 at 205.63mph to take the win.

“More than anything, we just wanted to put this Barwa Racing Camaro in the winner’s circle and try to clinch the championship for everyone at Barwa Real Estate,” said an obviously disappointed Smith, who broke a streak of five consecutive final rounds with the second round exit. “We’ve been here before, we know what it takes to win, but we just weren’t able to get the job done today.

“From the very start of the season, we’ve had a great race car. Howard [Moon, crew chief] and this Barwa team have done a great job. Obviously, we would like to have done better here in Round 6, but at the same time we’re glad to head into the final race of the season with the points lead.

“We’ll be back here in a few weeks at the QRC and you can be sure that we’ll roll out onto the track with a vengeance, with every intention of sealing the deal on this ADRL Pro Extreme world championship for Barwa and Al-Anabi Racing.”

KH EARNS RUNNER-UP FINISH IN ROUND 6; BLASTS BOTH ENDS OF PRO EXTREME WORLD RECORD

(2-12-09) DOHA, Qatar – Just when the devoted Qatar race fans thought things couldn’t get any more exciting, a final round match up between Sheikh Khalid Al Thani in the Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme ’68 Camaro and Alex Hossler’s 1970.5 Camaro during Round 6 of the Arabian Drag Racing League introduced a new contender for the 2009-10 Pro Extreme world championship.

Seemingly in another universe all weekend, Sheikh Khalid dominated qualifying, taking the top spot with a 3.689-second, 209.17mph pass in the fourth and final round, setting up a bye-run for the rookie driver in the opening round of eliminations on Friday. After essentially a test-pass in the first round, KH met fellow Arabian Gulf Region driver Bader Ahli in the semifinals and despite a solid performance from Alhi, the race was over as soon as Al Thani dropped the clutch on the Frank Manzo-tuned Camaro as the unlimited doorslammer marched to a 3.669-second pass at 209.46mph – locking up both ends of the Arabian Drag Racing League world records.

Alex Hossler, a native of Canton, Illinois, USA, was on the other side of the ladder working his way toward the winner’s circle as well, dispatching 2008-09 world champion Von Smith en route to the aforementioned final stanza.

When the ambers dropped on the Christmas tree at the Qatar Race Club, Hossler was off the line first with a blistering .004-second reaction time to KH’s respectable .036-light and maintained his early lead all the way to the finish line, earning his second Arabian Drag Racing League victory with a 3.724 at 206.32mph over Al Thani’s quicker but losing 3.709/209.30mph combination.

“I guess Alex and I are even now,” laughed KH following the final. “You’re bound to be on the losing end of a hole shot every now and then if you’re racing at this level, and we’re just happy to have an Al-Anabi Racing hot rod in the final round again for all the fans here in Qatar.”

Now locked into a three-way battle for the Pro Extreme world championship, Sheikh Khalid heads into the seventh and final round of the Arabian Drag Racing League at the QRC, just one round win behind teammate Von Smith, with Hossler only two rounds behind him.

“Even in our debut season, I was confident that we would be in the thick of the championship battle with Frank [Manzo, crew chief] and Tim McAmis calling the shots,” Al Thani continued. “It’s going to come down to the wire, though, with Von, Alex and myself in the hunt, and I’m excited – I don’t know that I’d want it any other way.”

The Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme team will return to action for Round 7 of the Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club on February 25^th, 2010 - the final event of the season. Qualifying gets underway at 7:00 PM AST on Thursday, February 25^th, with a second round scheduled for 9:00 PM. A final qualifying session will take place at 5:00 PM AST on Friday the 26^th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.

SHEIKH KHALID EARNS TOP SPOT IN QRC QUALIFYING

(2-11-10) DOHA, Qatar – With a 3.68-second, 209.17mph blast in the final round of qualifying, Sheikh Khalid Al Thani again seized the number-one qualifying position in the Arabian Drag Racing League's fierce Pro Extreme category, and encroached on his teammate, Von Smith's, world-record speed at 209.43mph.

Canton, Illinois' own Alex Hossler fell in behind Al Thani, taking the No. 2 spot with an equally impressive 3.76 at 204.88mph in his converter-driven '70.5 Camaro, with Barwa Racing's Von Smith-driven entry rounding out the Top 3 at 3.77-seconds, 205.13mph.

Arabian Gulf Region standout Bader Ali, led by the crew chief Todd Tutterow, another 2009 ADRL world champion, took the No. 4 spot with Ali Aryan filling out the Pro Extreme qualifying order with a 3.843 at 189.04mph.

In Pro Nitrous, Mike Castellana's impressive 3.89/194.88mph ran held up for the number-one slot, followed by 2009 ADRL Pro Nitrous world champion K.A. Balooshi with a 3.94 at 193.68mph.

BARWA RACING PRO EXTREME TEAM EYEING BACK-TO-BACK TITLES

(2-10-10) DOHA, Qatar – Just a day away from the first qualifying round of Round 6 of the Arabian Drag Racing League’s seven-race series, Von Smith and the Barwa Racing Pro Extreme Team are reminded of the situation they were in last season, taking the championship battle down to the last round of the last race. Having been here before, and given the opportunity to do things slightly different, Smith and company are hoping to widen the gap and take a step towards clinching their second Pro Modified world championship at the Qatar Race Club with a win this week.

“Winning last year’s championship here in Qatar for Sheikh Khalid and Al-Anabi Racing was a crowning achievement for both Howard [Moon, crew chief] and I,” said Smith from the team’s shop located on-site at the QRC. “We’re excited to have an opportunity to earn another championship this year for Barwa, and that’s our only focus going into these late rounds.”

The veteran driver from Oak Ridge, Tennessee continued, “They’ve done a great job here this year with the Arabian Drag Racing League and as far as the competition is concerned, we know we’re going to have our hands full, but Howard, Mac, Bryan, Terry and Jarom have been working around the clock to give me the best car possible on race day. Considering the way Howard had this Barwa Racing Pro Extreme Camaro running in Round 5, I’m confident we can put her in the winner’s circle on Friday.”

With two races left in the ADRL series and Al-Anabi Racing teammates Von Smith and Sheikh Khalid Al-Thani locked in a tight points battle, it will be a round-by-round shootout to determine the season champion, and the action starts this week at the Qatar Race Club with qualifying getting underway at 7:00 PM AST on Thursday, February 11^th, with a second round scheduled for 9:00 PM. A final round of qualifying will take place at 5:00 PM AST on Friday the 12^th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.

SHEIKH KHALID REFRESHED AND READY FOR ACTION IN ROUND 6

(2-10-09) DOHA, Qatar – After an intense three-race stretch that saw the stars and cars of the Arabian Drag Racing League doing battle on the Qatar Race Club’s eighth-mile drag strip for three weekends straight, Sheikh Khalid Al Thani and his entire Al-Anabi Racing operation greatly deserved a break from competition. Anxious to build on their success in Round 5, where Al Thani earned a second career Pro Extreme victory in the world’s first ever 3.6-second drag race, Al-Anabi Racing’s team owner and driver can hardly wait to get back to business behind the wheel of his Pro Extreme ’68 Camaro.

“It’s game time,” said Sheikh Khalid, checking in from his office in downtown Doha. “The team has had a chance to take a rest and get ready for these final rounds of the Arabian Drag Racing League series. It’s going to come down to these last two races to determine the world champion, and there is no denying that we have our eye on the prize.”

During the brief period of downtime, Al-Anabi Racing crew chief Frank “Ace” Manzo has been busy prepping Al Thani’s Pro Extreme Camaro for the 3.6-second, nearly 210mph performances that will be necessary to clinch the rookie driver’s first championship. Along with his duties as crew chief, Manzo has also been readying his own Al-Anabi Racing Top Alcohol Funny Car to defend his 2009 title stateside in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

“While everyone’s focus is on the upcoming Round 6 and 7 at the Qatar Race Club, the Al-Anabi Racing team is also working hard to prepare for the upcoming NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series that kicks off in March,” said Al Thani. “Howard [Moon, crew chief, Barwa Pro Extreme Team] and Mac Burnet have gone back to the Al-Anabi Superchargers shop to put engines together for our legal blower program in preparation for a run at the championship.”

Sheikh Khalid continued, “We are also excited to unveil our Qatar Race Club merchandise kiosk this week and give the loyal Qatar drag racing fans the opportunity to pick up some apparel from their favorite teams and drivers.”

The Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme team will begin qualifying for Round 6 of the Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club at 7:00 PM AST on Thursday, February 11^th, with a second round scheduled for 9:00 PM. A final round of qualifying will take place at 5:00 PM AST on Friday the 12^th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.

SHEIKH KHALID PREVAILS IN FIRST-EVER 3.6-SECOND RACE; TAKES THE WIN IN ROUND 5 AT THE QATAR RACE CLUB

(1-20-09) DOHA, Qatar – (1-21-09) DOHA, Qatar – In the quickest and fastest side-by-side race ever staged by full-bodied door cars, Sheikh Khalid Al Thani prevailed with his second career Pro Extreme win in Round 5 of the Arabian Drag Racing League’s 2009/2010 race season.

Leaving with a stunning .005 reaction time, Sheikh Khalid got the jump on teammate Von Smith, who also cut an impressive .029 in the opposing lane, but managed to hold-off the hard-charging Barwa Camaro all the way down the eighth-mile, taking the win with an incredible 3.679-second, 207.59mph pass over Von Smith's own 3.684 at an other-worldly 209.43mph - the fastest speed ever recorded by a door car.

“We knew going into the final, based on the previous round, that Howard [Moon, Barwa Racing crew chief] had a 3.60 in his tune-up bag,” said Sheikh Khalid following the winner’s circle celebration. “So I knew I was going to have to be on my game at the starting line. Tim [McAmis] and I are always talking about being consistent with my driving; staging the car the same every time, doing the same length burnout, and so on. I staged as shallow as possible in the final and, like I said, we knew they’d be swinging for the fences, so I had to do my job as a driver and leave first. Beyond that, I just let the clutch out and let her eat.”

Al Thani continued, “I’ve never been one to get real excited, but it was hard not to be fired up after that final round. Even before we got in the cars I felt like we’d already won. Having both our team cars in the final and then with the way the cars performed, it was all that we could ask for.

Sheikh Khalid further encroached on Von Smith’s lead in the points with his win, remaining No. 2 in the world championship points standings, but moving within two rounds of the lead.

The Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme team will return to action during Round 6 of the Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club this week. Qualifying for Round 6 will begin at 7:00 PM AST on Thursday, February 5^th, with a second round scheduled for 9:00 PM. A final round of qualifying will take place at 5:00 PM AST on Friday the 6^th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.

VON SMITH SETS WORLD SPEED MARK, EARNS RUNNER-UP HONORS IN QRC RD. 5

(1-22-10) DOHA, Qatar – In what could easily be considered the biggest news to come out of the Arabian Drag Racing League season thus far, Von Smith once again earned a spot in the history books en route to a runner-up finish during Round 5 at the Qatar Race Club with a shot-heard-round-the-world 209.43mph pass eighth-mile lap – the fastest speed ever recorded by a doorslammer. Smith, who fell to teammate Sheikh Khalid Al Thani in the final, maintained the No. 1 spot in the ADRL Pro Extreme points standings with his second-place effort, a mere two rounds ahead of Al Thani.

History wasn’t made only in the right lane, though, as the final round resulted in the quickest and fastest side-by-side race in the history of Pro Modified style drag racing, Von’s aforementioned 209.43mph blast coming in just 3.684-seconds, albeit not enough to best Sheikh Khalid’s stunning 3.679-second, 207.59mph effort.

“I can’t think of too many occasions where it felt okay to be runner-up, but this is definitely one of them,” said Von Smith, driver of the Barwa Racing ’68 Camaro. “To be in another final alongside Sheikh Khalid, to be in the quickest and fastest side-by-side drag race in history – you just can’t ask for anything better.”

In regards to the record-setting effort, Smith didn’t hesitate to give credit where credit is due.

“Howard Moon has this thing making big power – really big power. I can’t say enough about him and this entire Barwa Racing team, and I think all the hard work has been showing through these last few weeks. It’s been a pretty intense stretch, but it’s been a non-stop team effort. The support from Barwa Real Estate, Al-Anabi Racing and Sheikh Khalid has been incredible and we’re just honored to be able to represent them in fine fashion the drag strip.”

Coming into the final stretch of the Arabian Drag Racing League series, two races remaining, it will no doubt be a battle between the two teammates all the way to the very end.

“We know we’ve got our work cut out for us,” said Smith as the team made their way back to the Barwa Racing shop following the event, “but I’ve got all the faith in the world in Howard and the rest of this team, so long as I do my job behind the wheel, I think we’ve got a shot at doubling up. You can’t take anything for granted in heads up drag racing, but we’re going to be working round the clock here in Doha to make sure we bring home a championship for Barwa.”

2009 ARCHIVE