AL-ANABI RACING TERMINATES FUNNY CAR

[draglist]

AL-ANABI RACING TERMINATES FUNNY CAR; DEL WORSHAM WILL DRIVE SECOND AL-ANABI TOP FUEL DRAGSTER;
Funny Car Crew Chief Dickie Venables Released

BROWNSBURG, Ind. - - The Al-Anabi Racing Team will terminate its Funny Car program and add a second Top Fuel dragster for the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season, it was announced today. Veteran driver Del Worsham will pilot the new Al-Anabi Top Fuel car. Larry Dixon’s existing Al-Anabi Top Fuel team will continue.

Funny Car crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Funny Car crew chief Kurt Elliott were released after yesterday’s NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event in Ennis, Texas. Current second assistant crew chief Rod Centorbi has been named the team’s interim crew chief for the remaining three races of the 2010 season.

“We have been talking about going to two Top Fuel cars for some time,” Al-Anabi Racing team manager Alan Johnson said. “With all that has happened this season, we decided to move forward with the change. We are announcing this change now to give Dickie and Kurt time to find a new opportunity for next year. We appreciate all of their efforts and wish them the best of luck in the future.

“Right now, we are 100 percent focused on trying to win a Top Fuel championship, but when the season is over, we’ll work out the specifics of the new-look Al-Anabi team that will debut next year and announce it as soon as possible after the season.”

Worsham is no stranger to Top Fuel racing. He competed in 22 races as a Top Fuel driver between 1993 and ’95. In order to switch to Top Fuel, Worsham will have to earn his Top Fuel license, but when and where that will happen has not yet been determined.

“I’m excited about driving a Top Fuel car again,” Worsham said. “If you think about it, I’ve been racing the same people for 20 years. I’m looking forward to racing some different people and starting a new chapter in my career; there’s a lot of potential with this move, and I’ll be ready to get started.”

“I’m excited about having a true teammate in the same category,” Al-Anabi Top Fuel driver Larry Dixon said. “I’ve never had one before. Del running in the same category will help strengthen the Al-Anabi team as we compete against other two and three-car Top Fuel teams. In qualifying and on race day, whether I run first or he runs first, the second team should have some additional information so that should be an advantage.”

Worsham’s Al-Anabi Toyota Funny Car is eighth in the current NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings. He won three races last year but has yet to reach the winner’s circle in 2010. Worsham is seventh on the NHRA’s all-time Funny Car wins list with 25 victories. While the Al-Anabi team will move forward with two Top Fuel cars next season, a return to Funny Car competition in the future is possible.

[bandit]

Wow! Didn't see that one!

[Zappy]

Ahh-Yes, another top-notch Top Fuel car. Thats a good thing.

[jim sanders]

congrats to Del

[WildcatOne]

Good luck to Del next season. I hate to see Dickie Venables go, but he'll land on his feet somewhere. AJ isn't world-famous for being a Funny Car guy, although his Toyotas really didn't fare too badly. The Scelzi car was a struggle for him; it was still being developed and sorted out. Scelzi left (won a world championship in FC with DSR in the Oakley Dodge a few seasons later), Bruce Sarver came in and notched a win or two with it, Del also in current times, but when it comes to Top Fuel, AJ is without question, the man. Good call (my opinion) and good luck to all. Cheers, WC1

[Andamo]

It's probably the smarter thing to do by having 2 cars within the same class. The opportunity for testing ideas on 1 car and then applying to the other, or not applying it, makes good sense. The folks that were let go will be ok. They're good people and they will land on their feet somewhere.

[WCB]

No doubt that " US Army Car" is the target.
Tony S. , despite the arm chair fans predictions, has proven..Great driving wins rounds and Races. ( Dixon is top shelf (obviously), but Tony is a real Player (duhhhh)
Another car is a good strategy for AJ.......

Meanwhile..Peanut ( recent,great guest on our Show), and a couple of others will be in the popular,awesome, Fuel Funny car fields.

It's all good..........

( in my opinion)

[draglist]

Love him or hate him, Schumacher plain knows how to win. bp

[WildcatOne]

Just saw where Dickie Venables and Kurt Elliot are now with Morgan Lucas. WC1

Edit: That feature was removed from the site I read it on last night...

[WildcatOne]

I found it on another site:
http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory ... 8#indextop