When it was determined that the Al-Anabi team, owned by Sheikh Khalid Al-Thani and managed by Alan Johnson, would add a second dragster in 2011, and that Del Worsham would be the driver, the combination seemed formidable. And it was.

The Brian Husen-tuned dragster got off to a blistering start and set the pace in the competitive Top Fuel class almost from the opening green light in Pomona.

After reaching the semis at the O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals, the Husen-tuned, Worsham-driven Al-Anabi dragster found the Winner’s Circle at the Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals to assume the points lead, a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the regular season.

They would win five more regular season races to enter the Countdown as the dominant team not only in Top Fuel, but in the entire NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

They made it out of the first round at 20 of 22 races, but one of the two first-round slipups came at the first race of the Countdown – against Bob Vandergriff – and that almost derailed their hopes.

The Al-Anabi team dropped to third place and was as low as fourth place before rallying to win the last two races – wins that included defeats of his chief competition, Spencer Massey – to reclaim the top spot and win the championship.

When the year was over, the Husen-Worsham Al-Anabi dragster reached half of the season’s final rounds (11), qualified No. 1 at a third of the races (7), and racked up a gaudy 53-14 round-win record.