Bye-Bye Al-Anabi - Maybe For Good This Time!!!

[ocdart]

Back in November 2011 I started a thread titled, "Bye-Bye Al-Anabi???" when the rumor surfaced they may be pulling their funding for Alan Johnson's top fuel cars.
Today, Dragzine.com reports the Qatar Racing Club has terminated all funding for motorsports activities in North America. The leaves Alan Johnson Racing with no fund to go racing. And just as they were preparing for testing in West Palm Beach next week and the start of the 2015 NHRA season in early February.
Supposedly, the decision was made just as 2014 was closing and the team members were advised this morning.
Alan Johnson stated they were very surprised and disappointed and they are now exploring all of their options. He further said there will not be any additional statements until they have something to report. Until then none of the team members are allowed to grant any interviews.

A Qatar reaction to the falling price of oil?

I've never been an Al-Anabi fan just because of where the sponsorship money came from. They've always been my favorite to either DNQ or go out in the opening round of eliminations.

 

[alsant]

Same here good to see them go!

 

[barnfind]

I don't know anything about NHRA racing. Qatar has always been the most westernized of the Arabic countries to my knowledge. This OPEC price war is going to get uglier with time. I cant say if its a direct result , but it seems to fit the puzzle.

 

[super-bee_ski]

I wonder why?
He had stupid money....

Oh well....

 

[Budnicks]

I read that on Dragzine this morning also...
I've pretty much always liked Allan Johnson...
since his Brother Blain had a dealership in Auburn Ca. & he raced at Sacramento, Fremont, Sears Point, Bakersfield & Pomona too & all his/Allan's trick in house fab parts, knowledge, of chassis, engine/machine parts, tune ups & his racing style...

Never really liked the assn. with Qatar thou...
That assn., kind of made me cringe a little, since day one...

I highly doubt it's the money, funding from a Qatar Prince & they have plenty of $$$,
even with oil prices down, it was a family funded/raced operation too in T/F & Pro-Mod ranks...

It maybe used as an excuse to back out/save face thou...

There maybe something else in a political realm or banking/funds issues,
dealing with the funding from Qatar also...
There's been some real seedy/nefarious stuff dealing with international issues, funding some other things...
Political pressure from others possibly, by either side....
I don't want to make it into a political thing here, that's not my intent...
Please don't turn into that

The team was/is still owned, crew chief-ed, the chassis & engine parts supplied
by AJR in house chassis, parts & machine/fab shop funded by Allan Johnson Racing,
but it might be paid for indirectly by the Qatar Prince, sponsorships/marketing funds...

He/They AJR supplies many of their parts/chassis to other race teams also Pro & Sportsman ranks...

I'd suspect there was a tiff or "something else" altogether between Allan Johnson & the Qatar Prince
or maybe they just wanted to do their own thing, by either party possibly ??,
We may never know...

I wonder if the many other cars like those in Pro-Mod & many other Sportsman classes they sponsor too,
"eventually" will they be effected also ??,
if it is a $$$ issue anyway...
I really don't think it is the $$$ thou... It could be just an excuse

thanks for sharing

 

[Darter6]

I could be that the mega wealthy just plan get bored with their toys and want something new. Also I believe that the sheek wanted to dominate drag racing here,,,,,just didn't happened as planned......

 

[ocdart]

Never really liked the assn. with Qatar thou...
That assn., kind of made me cringe a little, since day one...

I've always felt the same way, Budnicks. Especially since Alan Johnson went from association with DSR and the U.S. Army sponsored Top Fuel car to his own team funded by Mideast oil money.
I know the feeling of running your own multi-car team and calling all of the shots had to be a big rush for him, but I don't think I could sell-out to a sponsorship source that is doing nothing more than screwing the American public by doing their best to control the price of crude.

 

[patrick66]

I'm glad to see that partnership vanish. I've done enough time in that part of the world for Uncle Sugar that it would be not soon enough, if we could wean our way out of that sphere of influence. Good riddance to al-Anabi! The Johnsons will come up with a winning strategy elsewhere, I'm quite sure!

 

[moparsteve636]

The kid has been known to drop his hobbies at the drop of a hat when he tires of it! Then move on to some thing else that catches his fancy! Glad he's going away! going to hurt the NHRA losing another top fuel team, Pro stock is almost non existent now! They can just barely get a full field of 8 cars that qualify at an event!

 

[64BEL]

I always thought the Sheik was headed for the driver's seat. I think he was doing some driving in his country or somewhere fairly recently. Could it be that AJ resisted that and it cost him? Who knows. I wonder if we'll ever get the story on Dixon's departure from that team, too.

 

[bobtile]

Good riddance !!!!!
I wonder if John Belushi is going to be looking for a ride here or go back to being a camel jockey?

 

[mmissile]

buh-bye!!!

 

[Budnicks]

I saw that all the American race sponsorships will be affected, ceased funding,
including all the other Pro & Sportsman classes,
that were getting marketing/sponsorship funds from Qatar/AlAnabi...

It will shake up allot of teams for sure, most are high caliber, highly funded teams too...
In this day & age of ubber $$$ Millions $$$ sponsorships...
It can be & no doubt will be really difficult, for that many of those other teams affected,
to even find sponsorship $$$$, especially all at once, to begin to recover/rebuild,
reemploy, even notify their personnel, so they can find new jobs etc.

It goes far deeper than just the AJR T/F teams & their funding now...

- - - Updated - - -

I've always felt the same way, Budnicks. Especially since Alan Johnson went from association with DSR and the U.S. Army sponsored Top Fuel car to his own team funded by Mideast oil money.
I know the feeling of running your own multi-car team and calling all of the shots had to be a big rush for him, but I don't think I could sell-out to a sponsorship source that is doing nothing more than screwing the American public by doing their best to control the price of crude.

I'd pretty much agree, never sat very well with many people, even those who like Allan Johnson

I know it's extremely hard to find that kind of sponsorship/marketing $$$ funding for fuel teams,
look at how hard it was on JFR, to find a replacement for Castrol & Ford after decades...

He's a marque/name/brand & probably the best interview on the boob tube,
even if you don't necessarily even like the guy...
Unfortunately the NHRA has became all about the $$$...

"Show Me The Money"...LOL

I hope AJR gets what he needs to field a single car T/F team at-least...
IMHO It'd be a shame to not have him involved in the NHRA top fuel ranks now...

 

[moparsteve636]

AJ can always go back to being a crew chief, and supplying other teams with his parts.

 

[Coyoteduster]

Like him or not, the sport is taking a big hit financially ...

http://www.dragzine.com/features/ed...-of-al-anabi-racing-not-news-to-take-lightly/

 

[mmissile]

The sport has been dying on it'd own stupidity. Fans can't relate to the cars, the cost of running has caused the demise of some teams....while others[teams/sponsors] won't even consider it. Enter the crappy economy into the equation, and you have a recipe for disaster. The 1000ft thing killed any interest in pro classes for me a few years back. It's pretty boring these days.

 

[bobtile]

The sport has been dying on it'd own stupidity. Fans can't relate to the cars, the cost of running has caused the demise of some teams....while others[teams/sponsors] won't even consider it. Enter the crappy economy into the equation, and you have a recipe for disaster. The 1000ft thing killed any interest in pro classes for me a few years back. It's pretty boring these days.

Agreed.
Maybe they need to get back to some grassroots racing. These idiots are going to price themselves out to a point that two people are going to be able to afford to go racing.

 

[Coyoteduster]

The sport has been dying on it'd own stupidity. Fans can't relate to the cars, the cost of running has caused the demise of some teams....while others[teams/sponsors] won't even consider it. Enter the crappy economy into the equation, and you have a recipe for disaster. The 1000ft thing killed any interest in pro classes for me a few years back. It's pretty boring these days.

You nailed it Sir ... :headbang:

 

[72Fourspeed]

Technology killed the best class ever,Pro Stock. 1970 rules were awesome!

 

[Gpuller]

Only thing that bothers me is the car count will be down 2 in the class. Pro Stock teams are all ready having funding problems, it's spreading to other classes.