Del Worsham to drive Al-Anabi Funny Car
After five years with Don Schumacher Racing, legendary NHRA crew chief Alan Johnson will return to team ownership when Alan Johnson Al-Anabi Racing debuts in 2009 as a two-car NHRA team with one entry in both Top Fuel and Funny Car competition. The driver and crew chief for the Top Fuel car have not yet been finalized. The location of the team's shop is also yet to be determined.
Worsham has won 22 races in 35 Funny Car final rounds over the course of his 17-year professional career and is currently 11th in the NHRA Funny Car point standings. The Chino Hills, Calif., resident made his professional debut at the final race of the 1990 season and was named NHRA Rookie of the Year in 1991 after winning two races and finishing 6th in points.
Worsham won five races and finished second in the NHRA POWERade Funny Car point standings in 2004, the best season of his career. Worsham spent the last 12 years sponsored by CSK Auto, Inc., but the company's recent acquisition by O'Reilly Auto Parts left him without sponsorship after this season.
"I'm thrilled to have this opportunity," Worsham said. "Throughout my career, I've always said that life is about timing. We lost our sponsorship this year, and I was really worried about that; knowing I'd come to a crossroads in my life. Then, Alan announced his new team at Indy, and while sitting in the stands at the U.S. Nationals, I decided I needed to talk to Alan to see if there was an opportunity. I really was just hoping to get an interview to know what my options were, and it kind of took off from there and I got the chance to drive this car. I'm really honored to be selected.
"I've been running our family team for so many years, and have been a big part of team operations in addition to driving the car. I am definitely looking forward to letting Alan handle running the team so I can just be the driver and hopefully have some great success focusing on that one aspect. I'm looking forward to it."