TUNER JASON McCULLOCH KEEPS PERSPECTIVE

AlBalooshi did a burnout and then could not back up because the clutch lever fell off. The Al-Anabi crew pushed the dragster back to the starting line and in the mean time Vandergriff Jr. was just waiting at the line. AlBalooshi then couldn’t get his dragster to roll forward to stage. Vandergriff finally did stage and took the win light at 3.866 seconds.This season hasn’t gone as expected for the Al-Anabi Racing team.

Alan Johnson Racing manages the two-car Top Fuel operation of the Al-Anabi Racing Team with drivers Khalid alBalooshi and Shawn Langdon.

AlBalooshi replaced Del Worsham who retired from driving after capturing the 2011 NHRA Top Fuel world championship and Langdon is replacing Larry Dixon, the 2010 world champ. Alan Johnson Racing and Dixon agreed to a mutual separation.

AlBalooshi came to Houston 13th in points and Langdon is fifth. The team also has yet to reach the winner’s circle.

“I had to know this going into the deal, and it is a long season and just work through it,” said Jason McCulloch, who is alBalooshi’s crew chief on the Al-Anabi Racing gold team dragster. “Every team has had to go through this. It is just part of racing. You are not trying any harder or any less than you normally do. You just keep doing your job and hopefully it will turn around.”

McCulloch is upbeat about the progress alBalooshi is making.

“The guys (Langdon and alBalooshi) are doing a good job, Balooshi, he just needs more runs, but he will get there,” McCulloch said. “It just takes time. Balooshi maybe has 40 to 50 Top Fuel runs, and the guys who we are running against have thousands. You just have to give him a little bit of time. Maybe some guys progress at a faster rate, but this is the hand that is dealt to me so I will just do the best I can with it. You can’t get negative about it. It is still a great job and we are out here doing this. We have to just enjoy what we do.”

AlBalooshi won NHRA’s Get Screened America Pro Mod championship last season, along with the 2011 Arabian Drag Racing League Pro Mod Championship in Qatar while driving for Al-Anabi Racing. AlBalooshi also finished second in the American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Pro Mod standings last year.

Unfortunately alBalooshi had a tough first round against Bob Vandergriff Jr.

AlBalooshi did a burnout and then could not back up because the clutch lever fell off. The Al-Anabi crew pushed the dragster back to the starting line and in the mean time Vandergriff Jr. was just waiting at the line. AlBalooshi then couldn’t get his dragster to roll forward to stage. Vandergriff finally did stage and took the win light at 3.866 seconds.

Langdon had his day end with a second-round loss to Steve Torrence.

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