TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA Qatar’s Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the two-time, reigning NHRA Top Fuel World Champion and owned by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al Thani, is looking for good fortune at the 13th annual Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, the fourth of 23 races which make up the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season in the United States.

Dubai native Khalid al Balooshi enters the Summitracing.com NHRA Nationals in 11th place in the NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel point standings. He trails 10thplace Brandon Bernstein by 19 points and leads 12th-place David Grubnic by three points.

AlBalooshi is competing for the 2012 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award which recognises NHRA’s Rookie of the Year.

While still learning how to tame the beast also known as the 8,000 horse power Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragster, Balooshi, was the No. 5 qualifier earlier this month in Gainesville, Florida. It was the best qualifying effort yet for the rookie Top Fuel driver, and his 322.19 mph speed is the fastest of his three-race Top Fuel career. In eliminations, the rookie driver lost to Clay Millican on a hole shot when the former champion left the starting line first.

With just 44 runs in a Top Fuel car, Balooshi, the 2011 NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod champion, is still transitioning to his new car. After the first-round loss in Gainesville, the Al Anabi gold team worked with Balooshi to determine adjustments that could be made to make him more comfortable in the car.

“I am excited to race this weekend in Las Vegas,” Balooshi said.

“I like the Vegas track, and things will be different from the first three races because of the altitude.

Las Vegas is more above sea level then where the first three races were held, so tuning the cars will be different. I want Las Vegas to be a fresh start for the Al-Anabi Racing team; I want to forget the first three races of the season and do a perfect job for Sheikh Khalid in the gold Al Anabi car this weekend.”