Al-Anabi Racing driver Von Smith said his experience thus far in 2009, more so than anything else,
has been "a privilege", and after scoring five event wins out of eight contested races in the
Arabian Drag Racing League and taking home the series' championship for Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al
Thani - it's also been impressive.
The brand-new team consisting of veteran Top Alcohol Funny Car tuner and Pro Modified crew chief
Howard Moon, along with the aforementioned wheelman Von Smith, suffered two major setbacks over the
course of the Middle Eastern racing season. Both incidents came in the form of high-speed top end
accidents, unfortunately destroying two racecars, but hardly enough to slow the progress of the
consummate professionals who maintained their composure and pressed forward.
After securing a car, one which Moon had a great deal of positive prior experience with, the team
continued their domination of the Arabian Gulf Region drag racing scene - even setting the mark for
the world's fastest Pro Modified pass at 257mph in 5.740 seconds.
"To win the championship for Sheikh Khalid," said Smith, reporting from the Al-Anabi Racing shop in
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, "was as big of an accomplishment as I've had in my racing career, and to be
the one appointed to represent his country in drag racing has been nothing short of an honor."
While the racing season is still in full-swing here in the United States, the Al-Anabi Racing Pro
Extreme team has spent the latter half of the summer since clinching the title in off-season mode;
enlisting Tim McAmis Race Cars to construct a state-of-the-art '68 Chevy Camaro for use this fall
and winter during the Arabian Drag Racing League season. First, though, the new hot rod will see
action at both Rockingham Dragway and the historic Texas Motorplex during the final two races of
the ADRL season. A final U.S. outing will come at the 7th annual Al-Anabi Racing Shakedown at
E-Town in New Jersey.
"We had a pretty rough and tumble season," Moon said, speaking primarily of the fact that the team
cycled through four different race cars during the course of the season, yet hardly missed a step
in their quest for the championship at Sheikh Khalid's magnificent Qatar Race Club in Doha.
"Sheikh Khalid never waivered in his support of this team, and we kept working hard to make sure we
represented him well. We all knew how much winning the championship meant to him and it was our
first priority. We got whipped up on a few times, and undeniably, I'm not a very good loser. I'll
lose graciously, but I don't like it, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure it doesn't happen
often. Despite the chaos, this team stuck together and delivered when we had to."
The new '68 Chevrolet Camaro arrived in Oak Ridge from McAmis' Hawk Point, Missouri-based facility
earlier this week and the team immediately began work on the car; looking to have it test-ready in
the next few weeks.
"The shop hasn't been empty up until now, though," said Moon. "We've been working on a new engine
program that should hurt a lot of feelings in the coming months. We've got five ready, but I plan
to have 8 engines ready to go when we ship the new car overseas later this year. There will be a
truck and trailer rig going over on a boat, along with the engines and spare parts, but the car
will be flown to Doha after we've finished up the year here."
While the new car and engine program are exciting new developments for the team in themselves,
perhaps the most interesting part of Al-Anabi Racing's new deal would be the marketing partner
they've teamed up with for the remainder of the ADRL season and next year's Arabian Gulf Region
outings- BARWA Real Estate Company.
A Qatar-based real estate conglomerate, BARWA has spent the past four years partnered with its home
nation, developing and constructing new and maintainable environments in and out of the city of
Doha. Local projects have included the construction of Barwa Al Khor, considered the "mother city"
of the nation of Qatar, Barwa Financial District, Barwa City, a one of a kind residential complex,
Barwa Commercial Avenue, and the city of Doha's convention center.
"Barwa actually sponsored a couple of events at Sheikh Khalid's track earlier this year," said Von
Smith, who will now represent both Al-Anabi Racing and BARWA Real Estate Company. "They were so
impressed with the turnout, and the sport of drag racing itself that they decided they wanted to
further their involvement. A proposal was submitted to Sheikh Khalid and now we've put together a
sponsorship program that will help build awareness for Barwa and their motto that the 'Future is
Qatar'. We couldn't be more proud to have them as part of this team."
Smith continued, "While we've enjoyed a great deal of success in the Arabian Gulf Region,
especially at the Qatar Race Club, I'm very excited to do a little racing here in the United
States. Hitting up the last few races on the ADRL tour and running at the Shakedown again will be a
great way to cap this season and get us ready for the next season overseas. It's been an incredible
journey up to this point and we expect continued success."
For more information on the Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme Team please log onto www.qrczone.com.
Details and further information regarding BARWA Real Estate Company can be found at
www.barwa.com.qa
Please visit Al-Anabi Racing Pro Extreme's sponsors at: www.bradanderson.com,
www.bandjtransmission.com, www.electrimotion.com, www.hoosiertire.com
