ROBERT HIGHT AND AUTO CLUB TEAM LOOKING FOR STRONG FINISH

YORBA LINDA, CA – Robert Hight and the Auto Club Ford Mustang team are looking forward to coming home. Hight will be racing at his home track in front of family and friends as he targets the No. 2 spot in the Mello Yello Funny Car point standings. Teammate John Force has already locked up the championship but Hight knows that finishing in the No.2 spot and or winning the Auto Club NHRA Finals would give his team momentum going into the off-season.

“You always want to win the last race of the season. That race will hang around with you for months until you can start testing and then come back for the Winternationals. I am excited John locked up the Funny Car championship and equally excited that we are in position to get to that No. 2 spot. We are three rounds out of second place and that is where our focus is,” said Hight.

While the championship may have been decided in Las Vegas there are four tough competitors battling for the two through five spots. Hight and teammate Courtney Force will be trying to drive around Matt Hagan and Jack Beckman during the final race of the season. Hight has won at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona four times in his career. Hagan and Force each have one win at the storied facility with 2012 Funny Car champion only reaching the final but never the winner’s circle.

“There are just some tracks that you feel really comfortable at and that gives you confidence. Auto Club Raceway is one of those tracks for me. We have been competitive in the Countdown so we feel confident coming into the race this weekend,” said Hight, how opened Countdown with win at Charlotte’s zMax Dragway.

The Auto Club Mustang tuned by Mike Neff has been one of the strongest Funny Cars in the category. Hight entered the Countdown in the No. 9 position and jumped to the No. 3 spot after the win in Charlotte. Semi-final finishes in Dallas and St. Louis have kept Hight in the hunt for the championship until Force secured his 16th title in Las Vegas two weeks ago. The competition has never been stronger in the class and a second place finish in the Mello Yello point stands is an attainable goal.

“Your goal when you start the season is to win the Mello Yello Funny Car championship. If we can’t win it then we want one of our teammate to win. If you can’t get the championship then you want to be in the hunt until the last race. Neff and I have really pulled together since winning the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and then Charlotte. This team is a championship caliber team and we are going for our third win of the season this weekend,” said Hight.

Hight will be trying to lock down his sixth Top 4 finish in nine seasons at the wheel of the Auto Club Ford Mustang.  The 2009 series champion enters the season finale in fourth place, only 54 points behind Matt Hagan, who presently occupies the No 2 spot.  Hight finished second in 2006 and 2007, third in 2011 and fourth in 2008.