Larry Dixon to leave Alan Johnson Racing?

Larry Dixon in Houston this past year

There are times when it's hard to ignore a rumor. It's even harder to look past the wisps of smoke from a source that has already sprouted flames.

That's the situation with drag racing's hottest report: Two-time champion Larry Dixon to leave his seat in the Alan Johnson Top Fuel dragster to race for Sheikh Khalid Al Thani.

Throughout the summer there were whispers the Sheikh would cut back his involvement of the Al-Anabi Racing team that featured Dixon and Del Worsham, who eventually won the Top Fuel championship. A week before the Auto Club Finals at Fairplex, word leaked that Worsham was going to step out of his ride.

Well, Worsham did retire and will be a crew chief for Kalitta Motorsports. Drag Racing Online reported earlier this week the Sheik had bought out Dixon's personal services contract with Johnson, only to sign Dixon to his own personal services contract.

Again, more questions than answers. If true, where will Dixon drive next? Will the Sheik split from Johnson? Who will Johnson get to drive his dragsters? Where does Forrest Lucas fit in this drag racing puzzle? Daily Bulletin