DOHA, QATAR (February 14, 2011) – Fresh off a Round Six victory, Shannon Jenkins' wish list for Round Seven of the Arabian Drag Racing League included another win and more records.
It started out just as Jenkins had planned at Qatar Racing Club (QRC), but the final outcome was not quite the result he and his team had their eyes set on in Pro Nitrous.
Jenkins posted career-best times throughout the event and even momentarily held the E.T. record, but ultimately fell to Burton Auxier on a holeshot in the semifinals.
Amazingly, Jenkins' short hold on the record came during the loss to Auxier, the 2010 American Drag Racing League (ADRL) PN World Champion. Jenkins went 3.787 to briefly nab the E.T. record, but Auxier was nearly perfect on the line and went 3.81 to advance to the finals.
"It's very disappointing, but that's just part of racing. My guys did an exceptional job this weekend and I just wish we could have gotten the job done," said Jenkins. "Burton is always quick on the tree and he made a great run with that 3.81. He and his team did a great job."
During qualifying, the legendary "Iceman" continued his strong performance from the previous week, posting a career-best 3.803 at more than 197 miles per hour to put him on top of the PN qualifying field.
In the opening round of eliminations, Jenkins matched the time to defeat Edward Wilson's 4.14 and remain as the quickest car of the event.
Points leader Khalid Al-Balooshi ran a 3.789 in the semifinals to lower his record, but Jenkins responded moments later, albeit in a losing effort.
To add salt to the wound, Al-Balooshi grabbed the record again in the finals, going 3.781 at 199.76 mph in a winning effort in the final round over Auxier. But Jenkins remains undaunted after a series of good runs in Round Seven.
"I wish the record would have stayed with us, but we had a good weekend. The car ran exceptional well and we will definitely give it all we have to win the championship next week," Jenkins said.
Jenkins' teammate, Mahana Al-Naimi steadily improved throughout the weekend as well, posting a career best of 3.837. He lowered it to a 3.824, but he fell via a .003 red light in the first round against Auxier.
"Mahana is continuing to do an outstanding job driving," Jenkins said. "He will definitely be one everyone has to look out for next week, in the championship race."
Jenkins plans to be another one to watch during Round Eight, which starts on Thursday and is the final race of the winter in Qatar.
He hopes to make more sub-3.80 runs, perhaps set a record and, most importantly, end the weekend as the World Champion in Pro Nitrous.
"You can bet we're going after the national record next week, but that's not all," Jenkins said. "We're going after that championship. It's going to be a good fight, that's for sure."
