Don’t prejudge Alan Johnson’s decision.   
The huge news this week comes from professional drag racing, where an announcement at the Indy NHRA U.S. Nationals has rocked the straight-line world.

I know. Leaving the Army team for a Mideast Sheik sounds bad, but please read on.

The announcement deals with Alan Johnson, the most powerful and respected “put the power to the ground” crew chief in drag racing. Come 2009, Johnson is leaving Don Schumacher Racing’s Army team to partner up with a Sheik from Qatar who wants to get involved in professional nitro drag racing.
I know. Leaving the Army team for a Mideast Sheik sounds bad, but please read on.   
Johnson, rumored to be the highest paid crew chief by far, will align with Qatar-based Al-Anabi Racing and form a two-car team beginning with the Winternationals at Pomona in 2009. Qatar, according to the news release, is an Arabian Gulf country in the Middle East that is fast becoming a global meeting place. Johnson will campaign a Funny Car and a Top Fuel dragster with drivers yet to be named.   
Knowing how adept Johnson is both on the business end of racing and with his magical ability to dial in a nitro clutch, we’re sure he’s got a multi-year deal signed, sealed and delivered. And rightfully so, as his seven NHRA Top Fuel championships and 75-race wins are indeed worth bidding for.  
Johnson said the deal is an exciting opportunity, and that he looks forward to a relationship with Al-Anabi Racing and the people of Qatar. It’s no secret Alan also wanted back in as a team owner, something he achieves with this deal.
At the forefront of this new partnership is His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani, who has set a goal of promoting the domestic and international awareness of motorsports in the nation of Qatar. The Sheik also owns several topnotch Pro Modified drag teams.     
Granted, public sentiment will vary. Johnson should be ready to endure much negativity regarding his decision to leave DSR and, perhaps more troubling, to the naysayers who will discredit him for aligning with a Mideast Sheik.
Yet, aren’t deals like this more commonplace than we think in motorsports today, as they have been in the past? A sponsor or team backer comes forward with the cash, you work out a deal and you’ve got your dream. The end results may vary, granted, but there’s no room for prejudices here, or in the future, when a new two-car team is in the holding tank and Alan Johnson is calling the shots.
Granted, marketing and sponsor “deals” take on different personas. Just revisit the last 20 years of Indy Car racing, and you’ll see countless foreigners who showed up with large bankrolls and bought seats regularly.
Better yet, before you pass negative judgment, take a long look at thoroughbred horse racing. There, you’ll find more than a few foreign Sheiks involved and, I might add, highly respected.
I wish Johnson, the Sheik and their new team all the best in ’09.