A semi-final finish at the recently completed NHRA O’Reilly Fall Nationals wasn’t enough to save the ship.

In confirmation of an Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com article published earlier today, the Al-Anabi Racing Team, managed by Alan Johnson, will park their Funny Car driven by Del Worsham at the end of 2010 and instead field a second Top Fuel dragster to compliment the existing dragster driven by current NHRA Full Throttle point leader Larry Dixon.

As a result of this move, crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Funny Car crew chief Kurt Elliott were released after yesterday’s event.  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.

A semi-final finish at the recently completed NHRA O’Reilly Fall Nationals wasn’t enough to save the ship.

In confirmation of an Attitude’s CompetitionPlus.com article published earlier today, the Al-Anabi Racing Team, managed by Alan Johnson, will park their Funny Car driven by Del Worsham at the end of 2010 and instead field a second Top Fuel dragster to compliment the existing dragster driven by current NHRA Full Throttle point leader Larry Dixon.

As a result of this move, crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Funny Car crew chief Kurt Elliott were released after yesterday’s event.  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 returns to Top Fuel after racing the class in 22 races between 1993 and ’95. He will have to earn a Top Fuel license before he can compete in the class.

“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 is eighth in the current NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings despite no wins this year.  The veteran driver is seventh on the NHRA’s all-time Funny Car wins list with 25 victories.  

While the team has confirmed the two dragsters for 2011, the Al-Anabi team hasn’t ruled out a return to Funny Car in the future.

 

---

{source}
<div style="float:left; padding:5px;">
<script type="text/javascript">
sr_adspace_id = 2000000613807;
sr_adspace_width = 300;
sr_adspace_height = 250;
sr_ad_new_window = true;
sr_adspace_type = "graphic";
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.afy11.net/srad.js?azId=2000000613807">
</script></div>

<div style="padding:5px;"><script type="text/javascript">
google_ad_client = "pub-8044869477733334";
/* 300x250, created 4/3/09 */
google_ad_slot = "2028912167";
google_ad_width = 300;
google_ad_height = 250;
</script>
<script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</div>{/source}