HIGHT BRINGS FOCUS AND DETERMINATION TO US NATIONALS
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Every driver who drives into the pits for the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals knows they are rolling onto 
hallowed ground. Names like Garlits, Prudhomme, Glidden, Schumacher and Force has all added to the mystic that is “The Big Go!” This year two-time US Nationals winner Robert Hight will be racing with to hold onto his spot in the Top Ten as well as try and get his third win at the biggest race of the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The 59th annual Chevrolet Performance US Nationals gets underway this Friday with the evening qualifying session for the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams starting at 7 p.m. at Lucas Oil Raceway Park.
“I don’t know if I have ever been more focused going into the US Nationals than I am right now. We had a really good test session last week and (crew chief) Mike Neff has given me a great race car. There will be a lot going on but we are ready and I am looking forward to getting on the track,” said Hight, a four time finalist at the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals.
In 2006 Hight won his first US Nationals outrunning veteran Whit Bazemore in the final and the next season Hight just missed back to back wins when he lost a close race to Mike Ashley. Hight’s third final round appearance in a row was another victory for the crewman turned driver as his Auto Club Ford Mustang drove away from Jack Beckman in the final round. The next year Hight won his first NHRA Mello Yello championship but the momentum got rolling as he clicnhed his spot in the Countodwn and then raced to the final against teammate Ashley Force Hood.
“You look at the success John Force Racing has had at the US Nationals the past decade in addition to John Force having four wins here. I was in four finals in a row starting in 2006. Ashley Force Hood won back to back (2009 and 2010) and then Mike Neff won back to back (2011 and 2012). We have had a shot at winning this race every year going since 2006 when I won it for the first time. We want to keep that streak going and I would love to get my third win at Indy,” said Hight.
In addition to the race Hight could be competing in the 2nd annual Traxxas Nitro Shootout. This $100,000 to win “race within the race” will be contested on Sunday the day before the final eliminations. Hight is in a tight race for the 8th spot with Tim Wilkerson, Alexis DeJoria and four other Funny Car drivers to win the fan vote and hopefully the lottery drawing on Wednesday in downtown Indianapolis.
“Our fans have been great throughout the voting process. It is a tough battle with Tim Wilkerson, Alexis DeJoria, Del Worsham, and all the other drivers. Everyone’s fans have been voting on Facebook but it will come down to the lottery event on Wednesday and I hope my ping pong ball pops out so I can run for that $100,000 prize,” said Hight. “We lost in the first round last year to Jeff Arend and I would like to get back into the action this year. I know a lot of our fans have been voting and all our sponsors like Auto Club, Castrol, Ford, Mac Tools, Lionel, and BrandSource have chipped in so I want to thank everyone for their support.”
Hight enters the last race of the regular season in 10th place in the Mello Yello point standings. He has a 31 point lead over veteran Del Worsham and he only trails the No. 9 driver by four points. It will be a tension filled three days of qualifying and then on race day every round will be critical to Countdown success.
