INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: The US Nationals is widely considered drag racing’s biggest and most prestigious event. And Qatar’s Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel team — the three-time and defending World Champion team owned by H E Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani — enter this weekend’s race looking to win the prestigious event for the second-straight year.
Both Khalid AlBalooshi’s gold Al Anabi team and Shawn Langdon’s silver Al Anabi team are confident with their cars and teams as they enter this weekend’s 60th Annual Chevrolet Performance NHRA US Nationals here — the 18th of 24 races making up the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Qualifying is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday with eliminations scheduled for Monday.
Langdon is the defending champion of the US Nationals and the Traxxas Nitro Shootout — a special event for the first seven 2014 race winners and an eighth driver voted into the race by the fans. Langdon’s Indianapolis double win last year was a dream-come-true weekend — it was a monumental success.
This year, the team is third in points as they enter the US Nationals, the final race of the regular season.
Last year’s brilliant US Nationals performance should give Langdon and his team great motivation.
“Winning the US Nationals last year ranked right up there next to winning the Mello Yello World Championship and the last race of the season the same weekend in Pomona (California) last November,” Langdon said. “In this day and age, with the competition so intense in Top Fuel, being able to double up and put on a performance like the Al Anabi team did last year, it’s tough to do. Everything has to fall into place just right for that to happen. We’re just excited to get back out there this week and give it a shot again.
“It definitely gives us something to shoot for; that Traxxas Shootout is a tough race against the best cars of the season. It’s only race winners and the most popular driver that hasn’t won this year getting the last spot. You know you have the best of the best competing in the Traxxas Shootout, and then you have to do it all over again to win the US Nationals in the same weekend. Those races just aren’t easy to win but we’re going to do our best to repeat in both of them.”
THE PENINSULA
