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.”
Read More
VON SMITH, BARWA RACING, HAVE STRANGLEHOLD 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.
Read More
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.”
Read More
SMITH EMERGES AS 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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
FRANK MANZO TO DEBUT AL-ANABI RACING TOP ALCOHOL 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 13th 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 14th 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 12th, 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 14th at 11:00 AM.
Read More
GOOD TEST SESSION BOOSTS 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.
Read More
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 12th, with a final session slated for Saturday afternoon and Round 1 of eliminations that evening. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday the 14th at 11:00 AM.
Read More
VON SMITH & BARWA RACING PRO MOD TEAM SET FOR GSA NHRA PRO MOD DEBUT AT GATORNATIONALS
(3-9-10) OAK RIDGE, Tennessee – Just weeks after finishing out the 2009-10 Arabian Drag Racing League series at the Qatar Race Club with an impressive runner-up placing in the world championship points standings, Von Smith and the Barwa Racing Pro Modified team are ready to represent the massive real estate and construction conglomerate on the Get Screened America NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series tour.
“Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to be back racing in the NHRA,” said Von Smith, driver of the team’s Pro Modified 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. “We’ve been honored to be able to race and contend for a championship on behalf of Sheikh Khalid and Al-Anabi Racing in the Arabian Gulf Region, but we’re happy to be back racing on our home soil and are hopeful we can see the same degree of success here in the United States.”
Smith continued, “With the announcement at the end of last year’s season that the NHRA was going to consider Pro Modified an official class, we knew we had to be a part of it. I don’t think there is any denying that the cars, drivers and crew chiefs that make up this GSA NHRA Pro Mod Series represent the best in the world and that’s where we want to be – competing against the best of the best.”
The Oak Ridge, Tennessee-based team’s pre-season testing has been limited, though, as they spent what is considered the off-season in America competing in the Arabian Drag Racing League’s Pro Extreme division overseas. Barwa Racing’s legendary crew chief, Howard Moon, is no stranger to the winner’s circle and has quickly re-acclimated himself to the “legal” tune-up that earned him four world championships and rights to the NHRA Pro Mod Crew Chief of the Year award in 2005/2006.
“Howard [Moon] and the whole Barwa Racing team have been working their tails off to put me in a car that we can go out and win races with, right out of the gate,” says Smith. “We’ve been away from the 20% overdrive deal for a while now, so we’ve had to get back up to speed, but we’re looking to pick up right where we left off this weekend in Gainesville.”
Smith and Moon, who will run as part of a two-car supercharged Pro Modified team under the Al-Anabi Racing umbrella in 2010 with Arabian Gulf Region standout driver K.A. Balooshi, led by tuners Jeff Perley and Justin Elkes, are eager to mix it up with the best the sport has to offer, but just as excited about being part of the National Hot Rod Association’s traveling production.
“Like I said, we’re truly excited about 2010 and having the opportunity to race for a legendary NHRA Wally trophy in Pro Modified; we’re seeing this class taken to the next level – no doubt about it. It’s going to be a big year for Pro Mod,” concluded Smith. “I’m just glad we get to be a part of it.”
The Barwa 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 12th, with a final session slated for Saturday afternoon and Round 1 of eliminations that evening. Final eliminations will get underway on Sunday the 14th at 11:00 AM.
Read More
ARABIAN DRAG RACING LEAGUE UNVEILS 2010/2011 SCHEDULE
Qatar Racing Club, Doha, Qatar
QRC Round #1 - December 2-3, 2010
QRC Round #2 - December 9-10, 2010
QRC Round #3 - December 16-17, 2010
QRC Round #4 - January 6-7, 2011
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit Round #5 - January 13-14, 2011
Yas Marina Circuit Round #6 - February 3-4, 2011
Yas Marina Circuit Round #7 - February 10-11, 2011
Yas Marina Circuit Round #8 - February 17-18, 2011
Read More
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."
Read More
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?”
Read More
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 25th, 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 26th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.
Read More
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."
Read More
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 50th annual NHRA Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. on Sunday; it was his 49th 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.
Read More
BARWA 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.”
Read More
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 25th, 2010 - the final event of the season. Qualifying gets underway at 7:00 PM AST on Thursday, February 25th, with a second round scheduled for 9:00 PM. A final qualifying session will take place at 5:00 PM AST on Friday the 26th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.
Read More
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.
Read More
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 11th, 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 12th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.
Read More
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 11th, 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 12th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.
Read More
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 5th, 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 6th, with eliminations getting underway at 7:00 PM AST.
Read More
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.”
Read More
Bulletin board
1) There will be a 50 point penalty to any car that
causes a major oil leak on the track that requires us
to dispatch our cleaning equipment.
2) "All cars must be equipped with an engine diaper
".
3) It is mandatory that All cars must have a minimum
of one tail light working.
4) In case of a car breaking down on the track it is
strictly prohibited that no one of the crew to go on
to track, this is QRC rescue team responsibility, they
will have to wait until our team escorts the car to
the pit area
To
Read the Arabic version Click Here
New
Rules and Regulations
