CONCORD, North Carolina: In a perfect world, team-mates Shawn Langdon and Khalid AlBalooshi would never race before the final round of eliminations, but sometimes qualifying forces the two to face off in the first round.
That is how race day started for the Qatar Al Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team, the three-time and defending World Championship team owned by H E Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani. And that meant one team-mate would begin the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Play-offs with a first-round loss on Sunday at the seventh annual Pep Boys NHRA Carolina Nationals — the 19th of 24 races that make up America’s 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season and the first of six races that comprise the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Play-offs.
When qualifying concluded Saturday afternoon, Langdon, the no. 6 qualifier, and AlBalooshi, no 11, knew they would race in Sunday’s first round. The weather was warm and humid Friday and Saturday, but Sunday dawned cool and cloudy, meaning racing conditions were completely different. With excellent racing conditions, fans were treated to a fantastic performance and the Al Anabi drivers didn’t disappoint.
Landgon left the starting line first. AlBalooshi’s 3.780-second effort at more than 317mph was a tick better than Langdon’s 3.800-second run, and AlBalooshi reached the finish line fifteen thousandths of a second before Langdon and won the thrilling first-round matchup.
A short time later, rain moved over the race track and NHRA was unable to complete the first round for all of the classes. The remainder of the seventh annual Pep Boys Carolina NHRA Nationals will be completed during qualifying at next week’s race near Dallas, Texas. AlBalooshi will have lane choice over NHRA veteran driver Morgan Lucas when the Top Fuel portion of the event resumes next weekend.
“Our team made a very good run in the first round against Shawn,” AlBalooshi said. “It was our best run of the weekend, and it was a good way to start race day. I wish we could have raced Shawn in the final instead, but this is the race. Finishing the race today would have been good, but I hope our team can win next week in Dallas. I know Jason (crew chief Jason McCulloch) and all of my crew guys will be ready for next weekend.”
Since the event is incomplete, point standings have not been updated. Langdon and AlBalooshi are still listed third and seventh in the NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel point standings respectively. The Al Anabi Racing team will be back in action this weekend for the conclusion of the NHRA Carolina Nationals during the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas.
THE PENINSULA
