Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Anabi Racing owner and Arabian Drag Racing League founder, invited U.S. troops to spend a day at the track near Doha, Qatar, Jan. 22. Forty servicemembers from a close by U.S. military installation received VIP tickets to round five of the Qatar Drag Racing Championship – an event that eventually revealed a record-breaking drag race.
Thani, son of the Qatar emir, is widely known and respected as "Sheik Khalid" at the Qatar Racing Club facility. Last year, he spent millions of dollars to surround himself with the best crew, cars, equipment and research available. Qatar is emerging as "a hub for motor sports," said Sheik Khalid, by attracting quality racing teams throughout Arabia and United States.