BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 13, 2015) – Khalid alBalooshi, the 2011 NHRA Pro Mod series champion, and 17-time Top Alcohol Funny Car champion Frank Manzo, have teamed to create a powerful new team and they will head to this weekend’s Summit Racing NHRA Southern Nationals with the intention of re-joining the title fight in the J&A Services Pro Mod series. Dubai native alBalooshi is the driver of the team’s new supercharged ’69 Chevy Camaro and Manzo serves a dual role as crew chief and team manager. The team, which made its official debut last month in Houston, is racing under the newly-created Al-Anabi Performance (AAP) banner.
“I am very excited and confident going to the starting line with a team and car that I know can qualify well, and compete in eliminations,” said alBalooshi, who is currently ranked No. 16 in the Pro Mod standings after just two events. “Not only is Frank Manzo a champion on the track, he is also a tuner and teacher and he will help me become a better racer.”
A versatile driver who has successfully competed in a number of different motorsports disciplines, alBalooshi recently returned to the Pro Mod class after a successful three-year stint in Top Fuel. A former champion in the Arabian Drag Racing League, he’s happy to be back behind the wheel of a 250-mph Pro Mod car.
“Pro Mod racing is my passion and it’s where it all began for me,” al Balooshi said. “This is the class that I enjoy most. The teams we compete against and the fans of Pro Mod racing have always welcomed me. I’m anxious to test the car and then compete in Houston. For quite some time I have looked forward to having Frank as my crew chief. On every run I look forward to having him guide me into the staging beams, tap the hood and flash me the okay sign. ”
Manzo’s career achievements in NHRA competition are legendary. The winner of a record 17 world championships, he is also one of just two drivers to win more than 100 NHRA national event titles and more than 100 divisional events. Manzo is also revered as one of the sport’s best tuners. His specialty is the supercharged engine combination that the AAP team utilizes. Manzo also has a sterling record at Atlanta Dragway, where he won 13-times between 1981 and 2008.
“The Pro Mod class is a relatively new challenge for me and I’m excited to have a chance to race with a champion like Khalid alBalooshi,” said Manzo. “These cars are not easy to drive but Khalid has proven himself to be one of the best. More importantly, he’s also a great person to work with. This is a new deal and we’re a little behind where I feel we should be but we’re working hard to catch-up. We’ve already made a lot of progress. We just need to keep plugging away.”
The AAP ’69 Camaro that alBalooshi drives was built by Jerry Bickel Race Cars in Moscow Mills, Mo. The colorful scheme was designed by Burke Designs and Classic Grafix, and the vinyl wrap was applied by Darren Merkle’s staff at Shadow Graphix. Veteran crew member Alex Ethridge is working alongside Manzo and alBalooshi.
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