Al-Anabi Racing Terminates Funding

The Qatar Racing Club announced today they have terminated funding for all of their North American motorsports activities, including both of their NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel drag racing operations.

The Al-Anabi team currently operates two Top Fuel teams driven by 2013 World Champion Shawn Langdon and Khalid alBaloosh. The teams current plans for the upcoming 2015 NHRA season are still undecided.

“We are obviously surprised and disappointed about this completely unexpected turn of events," Alan Johnson Racing team owner Alan Johnson said. “Our plans for the 2015 NHRA season were nearing completion starting with pre-season testing next week in (West Palm Beach) Florida and the first race of the 2015 NHRA season a month from today in (Pomona) California. Many things are uncertain, and our situation is obviously still evolving. We are currently exploring our options, and we hope to have more news in the near future."

Al-Anabi Racing was founded by Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, a member of the ruling family of Qatar, who partnered up with Johnson to form the team in 2009. The team won their first NHRA Top Fuel title in the following year with driver Larry Dixon, and again in 2011 with Del Worsham. The team had just announced a five-year contract extension with Johnson on Jan. 4 before today's announcement.