Qatar Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel driver Khalid al-Balooshi begins his Kansas qualifying run with the front tires lifted perfectly off the ground as team manager Alan Johnson looks on. Watching him are the silver Qatar Al Anabi team while waiting for their qualifying attempt. Picture: Gary Nastase

Agencies/Topeka, Kansas

Reigning NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon, the defending champion of the NHRA Kansas Nationals, made a very strong qualifying attempt and is fourth with a 3.802-second run at more than 317-mph. 

The Al Anabi car was certainly capable of running quicker and faster, but the threat of bad weather made it imperative to be a bit conservative on the first run to be sure the car went down the race track without smoking the tires. 

Shortly after the first qualifying run, heavy rain began falling at Heartland Park Topeka, and the evening’s second qualifying run was cancelled. Additional rain is forecast for the weekend too.

“Today’s run was good start for the Al Anabi team,” Langdon said. “With the threat of bad weather, it was important to get both Al Anabi cars down the track to be sure we had solid qualifying positions.  

“We are solid at fourth and fifth (Khalid al-Balooshi) for now. Depending on the weather, if we’re able to make a run, we’ll definitely attack the track a bit more because it was really good. 

“So if we get another run-in, we hope to move up a couple of spots to improve our position for race day (Sunday). It’s been a while since we’ve been to the winners’ circle, and Sunday would be great time to win a race for Sheikh Khalid.” 

Khalid al-Balooshi also made an excellent run on Friday. His 3.821-second run at nearly 320-mph put him in fifth position after the first day of qualifying. 

Like the silver Al Anabi team, crew chief Jason McCulloch and the rest of the gold Al Anabi team made a somewhat conservative run to be sure of al-Balooshi’s dragster making a successful run and claiming a good qualifying position.  Should inclement weather prevent any additional qualifying runs from happening, al-Balooshi is in excellent position for today’s race day.

“Our team was very smart today,” alBalooshi said. “We have a very good hot rod that could have been at the top of the show, but with bad weather, Jason wanted to be sure we qualified. 

“We made a conservative run, and we are fifth. It was smart. If we can get to make another run, weather permitting, we can get a better position. If it rains, and we do not make another run, we are anyways in good shape for race day. Our team did a very good job today, and I thank everyone for their hard work.”

Al Anabi Racing operates out of multiple locations in both the United States and Qatar. In the United States, the Brownsburg, Ind-based operation is a two-car NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series team that is managed by Alan Johnson Racing. Sheikh Khalid’s initiative has created increased international awareness of the State of Qatar while highlighting the nation’s international sports outreach. Johnson is a 15-time NHRA champion in various capacities including crew chief, team owner and team manager.