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."
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