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Alan Johnson leaving Army?
A source very, very close to the Don Schumacher camp has informed the Agent that DSR was told today that next year U.S. Army tuner Alan Johnson, with funding from the Qatar sheik by the name of Al-Anabi, will field a Top Fuel and Funny Car team on the NHRA circuit.
Al-Anabi, whose name now appears on some of the very best Pro Mod teams as a sponsor, such as Mike Castellana, recently has purchased several premier Pro Mod teams and has expressed to some racers the idea that he and his fellow countrymen would like to dominate drag racing as they have thoroughbred horse racing.
The Agent has known for some time that the shiek has been making inquiries about Top Fuel and Funny car teams and this announcement, if verified, would not be a surprise. If this is true this could escalate the price of a competitive Top Fuel and Funny Car team even further as Mr. Al-Anabi has virtually no budget. (Alan Johnson photo by Ron Lewis / Mike Castellana car photo by Todd Dziadosz) [8/29/2008]
Martin gets back-to-back CIFCA wins
The California Independent Funny Car Association made its second appearance at the eighth-mile Barona Dragstrip located near San Diego, CA. CIFCA utilized an all-run format with a 4.70 index for this Aug. 23 event. Eleven cars showed up for the competition.
Since there were an odd number of cars in the semis, the quick loser from second round was reinstated. Brad Faria was brought back in and was paired with Jamie Leppanen. Faria went .017 on the tree to Leppanen’s .038 with both cars running 4.802 so Faria got the win with a margin of victory at .021. The other semi pitted Dean Oberg against Will Martin. As both cars went to stage, Oberg’s car began to smoke from inside and lurched past the starting beams, thus disqualifying him and giving Martin a single into the final. Later it was found that Oberg had a battery short out which caused a small electrical fire.
In a rematch of the Redding final, Faria in his Faria Factor Thunderbird faced Martin in the EMCOR Service/Thermo Power industries Firebird. Both cars went into stage, Martin first then Faria. As the tree came down, Faria turned on the red light giving Martin the win. The win gave Martin back-to-back wins and increases his points lead heading into Albuquerque, NM. (photos courtesy CIFCA) [8/29/2008]