KENT, Washington: The Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the three-time and defending NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel World Champions owned by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, picked up right where it left off after a thrilling all Al-Anabi Racing final round last Sunday in Sonoma, California.
Reigning World Champion Shawn Langdon is third, and last week’s winner, Khalid alBalooshi is sixth after the first day of qualifying at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals near Seattle, the 16th of 24 races making up the United States’ NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Qualifying resumes Saturday with eliminations set for Sunday.
Langdon’s silver Al-Anabi car was brilliant in the first qualifying round blistering the suburban Seattle race track with a 3.807-second effort at more than 317 mph and was the No. 1 qualifier after the first session.
That run gave Langdon’s team a spot in the last pair of cars in the second session when racing conditions are fastest. Langdon’s car was on a dazzling run when it smoked the tires down track – just like it did in the Sonoma final round today – and Langdon aborted the run. His afternoon run was so strong, however, that it was still good enough for third quickest after the first day.
“The Al-Anabi team made a really good run in the first round,” Langdon said.
“We were on a great pass that probably would have given us the No. 1 qualifier when it smoked the tires a little bit down track. We were in a perfect position to go for the No. 1 qualifier so we did – we just overpowered the race track a little bit. We’re in good shape for race day on Sunday, and we hope to put this silver Al-Anabi Top Fuel car in the winner’s circle on Sunday.”
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