Sheikh Beats All for Arabian Drag Racing Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: American Drag Racing League Contact: ADRL Communications (404) 375-4895 or (636) 272-2375 www.ADRL.us <http://www.ADRL.us> *Sheikh Beats All for Arabian Drag Racing Championship* DOHA, QATAR (Feb. 27, 2010) -- In one of the most remarkable rookie seasons ever for a professional race car driver, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar has won the Arabian Drag Racing League's 2009-'10 Pro Extreme championship. Driving a 3,000-horsepower, supercharged 1968 Camaro tuned by legendary American drag racer Frank "Ace" Manzo, Al-Thani, 23, qualified first four times and won three of seven events on his way to securing the series title. Still, entering Round 7 this weekend at the Qatar Racing Club, Al-Thani was joined by defending series champion Von Smith and fellow American Alex Hossler as drivers with a mathematical shot at winning the championship. When Hossler ousted Smith from the semi-finals, it left Al-Thani facing Bader Ahli of the United Arab Emirates in perhaps the pivotal match-up of his young driving career. The Sheikh didn't disappoint, running low time and top speed of the event with a 3.71-seconds blast at 207.27 miles per hour over the eighth-mile distance to advance and secure the 2009-'10 Arabian Pro Extreme Championship. "We were well aware of the different possible outcomes of the points race," Al-Thani said later. "But we knew the best approach to situations such as these is to rely only on our capabilities and not the actions of others. Winning the race would mean winning the championship, so that was our goal from the start of the event." Al-Thani capped the accomplishment with the race win over Hossler, who was disqualified for leaving too soon in the final round. In victory lane, Al-Thani also received the Arabian Drag Racing League Driver of the Year award and Manzo, a 12-time Top Alcohol Funny Car world champion and 101 national event winner, was named Crew Chief of the Year. "I couldn't be happier for him," Al-Thani said of Manzo. "It was great to see his big smile after we got back to the pits and see the excitement on everyone's face. It was a big moment, and I believe it is only the beginning for this Al-Anabi Racing team." Also joining Al-Thani as an Arabian Drag Racing League champion was his Al-Anabi Racing teammate, Khalid Al-Balooshi, who backed up his 2009 American Drag Racing League Pro Nitrous championship after taking the win in the Qatar Pro Nitrous final over New Yorker Mike Castellana. "This has been a tremendous season for the Arabian Drag Racing League, one that stands out for its record-setting performances and growth as a series," Kenny Nowling, president and CEO for both the American and Arabian Drag Racing Leagues, said. "I congratulate all the race winners and champions and thank them for providing us with memories to last a lifetime." PHOTO CUTLINES ADRL_SheikhR7final.jpg Alex Hossler (near lane) of Canton, Illinois, left .195 too early in the left lane, negating a solid 3.74-seconds pass at 203.71 mph, while Sheikh Khalid Al-Thani had a sharp .024 reaction time, but soon encountered traction problems and won the race and the Arabian Pro Extreme championship with an off-the-pace 5.18 at 94.95 mph over the Qatar Racing Club eighth mile in his Tim McAmis-built '68 Camaro. ADRL_SheikVL.jpg In victory lane Sheikh Khalid (with trophy) celebrated with his Al-Anabi teammates and received the Arabian Drag Racing League's Driver of the Year award, with his crew chief, Frank "Ace" Manzo (third from left), being named Crew Chief of the Year after tuning Al-Thani to world-record elapsed times and speeds while picking up three event wins on their way to the Pro Extreme championship. ADRL_Sheikh_stands.jpg Among those packing the Qatar Racing Club grandstands to capacity this weekend were several dignitaries, including more than 400 U.S. service men and women, U.S. Embassy First Secretary of Press, Education and Cultural Affairs Joey Hood; Mahvash Siddiqui, Cultural Attache, Public Affairs Section for the Embassy of the United States of America, several members of the Kuwaiti royal family and Dominic Reilly, head of marketing for the Williams Formula 1 racing team. ABOUT THE ADRL Based in O'Fallon, Missouri, the American Drag Racing League is the nation's premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2010 ADRL series consists of nine national events run throughout the United States. For more information on the ADRL, visit www.ADRL.us <http://www.ADRL.us>. -- END --