Khalid al Balooshi confident he can build on his success in Ohio

The Qatar Al Anabi team has won four of the past five events in Ohio and Al Balooshi, the defending champion, is looking to make it five from six at this weekend’s NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team driver Khalid al Balooshi begins a qualifying attempt during the Toyota NHRA Summer Nationals in Englishtown, New Jersey on June 1. AlBalooshi and his team race this weekend in Ohio. Photo Courtesy Gary Nastase

The UAE’s Khalid al Balooshi goes into this weekend’s NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, as defending champion, and with the hope that his Qatar Al Anabi Racing team can continue their winning streak at the event.

The Ohio race meeting is the 13th of 24 in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series in the United States, with qualifying Friday and Saturday ahead of eliminations on Sunday.

The Qatar Al Anabi team has won four of the past five events in Ohio and Al Balooshi is confident of making it five from six.

“I am very excited to back to Norwalk this week,” he said. “From last year when I won the race there, I have been thinking about when I go back there.

“I think it will feel good to get back to Norwalk because I know I have done this before. I will not have any thoughts about not being able to win there because I won there last year, and that will give me an advantage. Norwalk is also a very good racetrack for our team so that is good, too.”

Al Balooshi and his team are hoping to celebrate another victory. They hope the return to Norwalk will help them solve the mechanical issues the team has dealt with in the past several races.

“With Jason [crew chief Jason McCulloch] and the rest of our Al-Anabi team, I am always confident,” Al Balooshi said.

“I know we are still finding out a lot of things about the car, but everyone is doing their job to get our car back where it needs to be.”

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