TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA AFTER two straight NHRA World Championships, HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al Thani’s Qatar Al Anabi Top Fuel Racing Team is competing in the first race of the 2012 National Hot Rod Association season in the United States.

Al Anabi Racing Team Top Fuel drivers Khalid al Balooshi and Shawn Langdon have qualified for the eliminations.

Two qualifying rounds were scheduled on Saturday but rain showers forced cancellation of the final round of qualifying, according to reports reaching Doha from Pomona, California.

Dubai’s Balooshi recorded his best pass of the weekend when he recorded a 3.838 second pass at 321.42 mph.

He is the No. 7 qualifier and will race against the No. 10 qualifier Clay Millican in the first round of eliminations.

“The run today was good. I amhappy with what the car is doing,” Balooshi said. “The car is good and the run today was one of the fastest so far. I am excited and hope tomorrow will be a better day. We are really very strong and I will I try to do my best for Sheikh Khalid and the people of Qatar.” Langdon also put in his best pass of the weekend with a pass of 3.841 seconds at 318.84 mph. Langdon will race No. 9 qualifier Steve Torrence in the first round of eliminations.

“I feel great even though we qualified eighth which we wanted to be,” Langdon said.

“We made our best run of the weekend today, but it still wasn’t what they expected.

After the run, they looked over the Al Anabi car and feel like they found a couple of things which is all I need to hear.

They said it’s handled and the car will be good; I trust them 100 percent. It’s the first race of the year, and everyone on the Al Anabi Racing Team is ready to get the season started, and let’s go racing.” The Al-Anabi Racing Team operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar. Sheikh Khalid’s initiative has created increased international awareness about Qatar while highlighting the nation’s international sports outreach. Alan Johnson is a 14-time NHRA champion in various capacities including crew chief, team owner and team manager. For additional information on the Al Anabi Racing Team, team manager Alan Johnson or drivers Khalid al Balooshi or Shawn Langdon, visit www.alanabiracing.

com.