Veteran drag racing journalist Rob Geiger is reporting on his website Go2Geiger.com that Frank Manzo has asked for and been granted release from his contract with Lucas Oil at the close of the 2009 season. He will move to the Al Anabi racing team going forward.
The story indicates that there are no hard feelings between the Lucas family and Manzo, just that he was given the offer of a lifetime and could not turn it down. The Al Anabi team is owned by Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, whose family runs the country of Quatar. The sheik has pumped millions of dollars into the NHRA with his largest operation being the nitro teams of Alan Johnson.
Manzo is considered by most as the greatest Alcohol Funny Car racer of all time and one of the greatest drag racers ever. The guy has won nearly 100 NHRA Nationa events and laid waste to divisional fields from here to eternity. He’s a bad ass in the car and a great guy out of it. He will now be running with the backing of the richest man in drag racing.
