Dubai’s Khalid al-Balooshi celebrates his NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel victory following the season’s first race in Pomona, California, on February 9.

Agencies/Chandler, Arizona


It has been quite a two-week stretch for Khalid al-Balooshi, the third-year driver for the Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team, the three-time and defending World Championship team owned by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani.
For the first time in his career, al-Balooshi is the Top Fuel points leader, and he will look to maintain that lead during this weekend’s 30th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Chandler, Arizona just outside Phoenix. It is the second of 24 races making up the United States’ 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Qualifying is set for Friday and Saturday with eliminations scheduled for Sunday. Almost two weeks ago, al-Balooshi won the season-opening Circle K NHRA Winternationals near Los Angeles.  With his impressive performance in the Jason McCulloch-tuned Al-Anabi gold dragster, al-Balooshi left the season’s first race with the points lead and a berth in the prestigious Traxxas Nitro Shootout set for the US Nationals at Indianapolis later this summer.
The next day, he flew home to Dubai, UAE for some rest and relaxation with his family and friends but with a special token of his recent success.
“This is something new for me; it is the first time I am the points leader,” al-Balooshi said.  “And that is what I thought about when I flew back to Dubai with my trophy after Pomona.  I was very excited to be back in Dubai to be able to enjoy the win with my family and friends.  I put the trophy in my speed shop.  I think this trophy is special because it is the first NHRA Top Fuel trophy that I put in my speed shop. The trophies from my other two wins are in my home in California. I thank Sheikh Khalid and everyone else on the Al-Anabi team for his help in making this win happen; it was very good for everyone.
“I am looking forward to seeing my name on ESPN–Khalid al-Balooshi, points leader,” al-Balooshi added.
“This has never happened before so I am excited about being in this position. It is way different for me. I have raced Top Fuel for three years, and this is the first time I have been the points leader so now let’s see if I can stay in it for two more weeks! I hope so.”
Now, with his first win of the year and the points lead in hand, al-Balooshi returns to the United States today to compete in the season’s second race, this weekend’s CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals near Phoenix, Arizona.
This weekend’s conditions will be much different from those in which al-Balooshi celebrated his victory in the southern California winner’s circle where the weather was cool and humid.
This weekend, the weather will be warm and dry and the track sometimes tricky depending on the weather. Regardless of what this weekend brings, alBalooshi is ready to get back in the Al-Anabi cockpit and have another go.
“I am also very excited to get back Phoenix this week to race again,” al-Balooshi said. “Our team is going in the right direction. If I watch what we did in the first year, the second year, I think this is the way to go  I think we are in a good position now. To stay in this position, I want to try to do the best that I can do in the car. I know Jason (crew chief Jason McCulloch) is going to do his best and all my crew will do his best.
“I am very excited to get back to the US this week, and I want to see all of my guys as soon as I get to Phoenix. I think it will be a fun time for everybody. I think if I leave Los Angeles early Thursday morning, I will be in Phoenix in time to take my whole crew out for dinner or something the night before the race.  That will be fun for everybody.”
Al-Balooshi’s teammate, 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champion Shawn Langdon, enters this weekend’s race in fifth place in the early-season point standings.
He will look to rebound from Pomona’s second-round loss to alBalooshi this weekend in Phoenix.