ARAB SHEIKH FUNDS U.S. RACING TEAM

The general behind the success of the U.S. Army Top Fuel team is defecting to Qatar.

It was announced today at the U.S. Nationals near Indianapolis that crew chief Alan Johnson would field Top Fuel and Funny Car teams next year with financial backing from Qatar-based Al-Anabi Racing.

The head of the partnership is Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, who has “set a goal of promoting the domestic and international awareness of motorsports in the nation of Qatar,” according to a press release from Alan Johnson Racing.

Johnson, who has tuned Tony Schumacher and his U.S. Army-sponsored team to the last four NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel championships, has won seven national titles, including five with the Don Schumacher Racing team.

Johnson is in the last year of his contract and will remain with Schumacher through the end of the season. Johnson and Schumacher have won 10 of 17 NHRA titles this year and the last five events.

This is a shocking development in not only drag racing but in American racing.

It is the first major victory for NHRA over NASCAR. This move could provide a greater influx of money to drag racing among the highly competitive, filthy rich families in the United Arab Emirates.

It’s been rumored that his highness put up more than $10 million to lure Johnson.

Al-Anabi Racing formed an alliance in June with the Pro Modified program of Awesome Motorsports in New York. The team was renamed Awesome Al-Anabi and competes in the Jegs Pro Mod Challenge.

The series will run in conjunction with the Oct. 30-Nov. 2 ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.