[coverattach=1]O’FALLON, MO (Nov. 12, 2008) — Call it a working vacation, but American Drag Racing League (ADRL) co-founders Tommy Lipar and Kenny Nowling, who also serves as president of the O’Fallon, Missouri-based series, are heading home after a whirlwind, week-long tour of Doha, Qatar and Dubai and Umm Al Quwain, in the United Arab Emirates.
Accompanied by ADRL Executive Assistant Jessica Alcoke, the trio were guests of Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, an oil-rich peninsula nation abutting Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. The Sheikh is intent on globalizing the sport of drag racing and has invested millions of dollars in building race facilities and teams at home and recently expanded to assembling a multi-car ADRL Pro Nitrous team with connections to New York, West Virginia and Alabama.
“I’m honored that Sheikh Khalid Al Thani has chosen the ADRL to assist him in his global efforts,” Nowling said. “We’ve made big plans together to bring drag racing to this region (Middle East) and far beyond on a grand scale.”
Though not yet ready for release, “several big announcements will be coming” in the next few weeks, he added.
“Everyone in America, and especially in the ADRL, should be excited, not just because of the resources the Sheikh offers, but for his vision and passion for the sport. His knowledge of drag racing, both mechanically and historically, is second to none,” Nowling stated. “He’s done his homework.”
Nowling also called the trip “an eye-opening experience,” given the ongoing U.S. war with Iraq and Afghanistan not all that far way in the region.
“I feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to bring the message home that this part of the world is one of the nicest places you could ever visit,” he said. “The standard of living is phenomenal, the courtesy and respect we’ve been shown has been unbelievable and the amenities here are incredible. I realize that’s a lot of superlatives to throw around, but they’re the only way I can describe our experience here. To say I’m looking forward to returning is a huge understatement.”
The ADRL is an all-eighth-mile professional drag racing series that will conduct 10 national events in 2009, visiting nine states after beginning in March at Houston, Texas.
ABOUT FLOWMASTER
Flowmaster, Inc. is housed in two ultra-modern facilities in Santa Rosa and West Sacramento , California , together totaling over 400,000 square feet. Flowmaster employs over 250 workers dedicated to building the highest quality U.S.-made exhaust products available. Flowmaster’s product line includes exhaust products for Performance Street , Muscle Cars, Trucks, Street Rods, RVs, Motorhomes, and all types of race applications. With more than 400 different muffler models, 370-plus exhaust systems and numerous exhaust accessories available, Flowmaster offers the choice to fit your specific vehicle needs, or your sound preference from "wild to mild."
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD
The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation’s longest enduring institutions. The National Guard operates in all 50 states, three territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia .
ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri , the American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous, and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2008 Flowmaster ADRL series presented by the National Guard consists of nine national events run throughout the United States .
Accompanied by ADRL Executive Assistant Jessica Alcoke, the trio were guests of Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, an oil-rich peninsula nation abutting Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. The Sheikh is intent on globalizing the sport of drag racing and has invested millions of dollars in building race facilities and teams at home and recently expanded to assembling a multi-car ADRL Pro Nitrous team with connections to New York, West Virginia and Alabama.
“I’m honored that Sheikh Khalid Al Thani has chosen the ADRL to assist him in his global efforts,” Nowling said. “We’ve made big plans together to bring drag racing to this region (Middle East) and far beyond on a grand scale.”
Though not yet ready for release, “several big announcements will be coming” in the next few weeks, he added.
“Everyone in America, and especially in the ADRL, should be excited, not just because of the resources the Sheikh offers, but for his vision and passion for the sport. His knowledge of drag racing, both mechanically and historically, is second to none,” Nowling stated. “He’s done his homework.”
Nowling also called the trip “an eye-opening experience,” given the ongoing U.S. war with Iraq and Afghanistan not all that far way in the region.
“I feel like I’ve been given the opportunity to bring the message home that this part of the world is one of the nicest places you could ever visit,” he said. “The standard of living is phenomenal, the courtesy and respect we’ve been shown has been unbelievable and the amenities here are incredible. I realize that’s a lot of superlatives to throw around, but they’re the only way I can describe our experience here. To say I’m looking forward to returning is a huge understatement.”
The ADRL is an all-eighth-mile professional drag racing series that will conduct 10 national events in 2009, visiting nine states after beginning in March at Houston, Texas.
ABOUT FLOWMASTER
Flowmaster, Inc. is housed in two ultra-modern facilities in Santa Rosa and West Sacramento , California , together totaling over 400,000 square feet. Flowmaster employs over 250 workers dedicated to building the highest quality U.S.-made exhaust products available. Flowmaster’s product line includes exhaust products for Performance Street , Muscle Cars, Trucks, Street Rods, RVs, Motorhomes, and all types of race applications. With more than 400 different muffler models, 370-plus exhaust systems and numerous exhaust accessories available, Flowmaster offers the choice to fit your specific vehicle needs, or your sound preference from "wild to mild."
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD
The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation’s longest enduring institutions. The National Guard operates in all 50 states, three territories (Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia .
ABOUT THE ADRL
Based in O’Fallon, Missouri , the American Drag Racing League is the nation’s premier sanctioning body for the sport of eighth-mile drag racing. The professional categories featured in the ADRL are Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Extreme 10.5, Pro Nitrous, and Pro Extreme, the quickest doorslammer class in all of drag racing. The 2008 Flowmaster ADRL series presented by the National Guard consists of nine national events run throughout the United States .
