ROBERT HIGHT HEADS TO CHICAGO WITH WINNING ON HIS MIND
CHICAGO, IL – In the past two weeks Robert Hight has “enjoyed” two winner’s circles for his teammates, Bristol winner John Force and 
last week’s winner Courtney Force. In his role as President of John Force Racing, Inc., Hight was thrilled for his teammates and their respective crews. As driver of the Automobile Club of Southern California Ford Mustang Funny Car those winner’s circles we bittersweet for the 2009 Funny Car champion and one of the most competitive drivers on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. This weekend at the 16th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Rt. 66 NHRA Nationals Hight will be focused on enjoying his own winner’s circle on Sunday.
“I am definitely happy for John and Courtney. We are in the race winning business and for all our sponsors winning those two races plus the season opening Winternationals is huge. Now I need to get into the winner’s circle with my Auto Club Mustang. Jimmy is getting closer. We qualified really well in New England on a new track. I think coming to Rt. 66 Raceway we will be in a good position to go some rounds,” said Hight.
Hight’s race results have been a mixed bag at Rt. 66 Raceway. In his last eight appearances at the track located in Joliet just outside of Chicago he has been runner-up twice and has lost in the first round a couple of times and reached the quarter-finals three times. His worst outing was a DNQ in 2007.
“I remember losing to John Force in the final in 2006 which was my second year racing. I also remember losing to Matt Hagan a couple of years ago when I was going for my fourth win in a row. That was a tough one because we were rolling at the time. It was a great race and we just came up a little short,” said Hight.
“Last year we were able to win four races in a row which only a few drivers have done in the history of the NHRA. Guys like Force, Prudhomme and Bernstein the legends of our sport. I take a lot of pride in being a consistent winner and we are working to get a consistent race car. We don’t want to win one race and then keep struggling. We want to get a stable tune-up and win 4-5 races.”
Since 2005 Hight is the only driver to start his career by winning multiple races every year and lead the Mello Yello Funny Car point standings. His race car has shown signs of turning around racing to the final in Topeka before losing to Johnny Gray. Before that race Hight was given some words of encouragement from fellow racer Ron Capps.
“Capps came up to me during driver intros and said he was glad to see my car back and running well. That means a lot for a competitor like him. You want to be competitive and have the people you are racing against know they are going to get your best. Every time I pull up the starting line I am trying to cut a good light and have a solid reaction time. I try and be consistent for Jimmy so he knows I am going to give him my best effort,” said Hight, who is recognized as one of the best leavers in the sport.
The 16th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Rt. 66 NHRA Nationals will get underway with the pros qualifying on Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day. This is the first time the pros will contest all qualifying sessions in the evening and under the lights.
“You will see some quick times for sure and that last qualifying session will be pressure packed,” said Hight last week’s No. 5 qualifier. “No one will be safe in the field since conditions will be great on Saturday night. The teams will have to turn it around for race day on Sunday which will also make for a busy and exciting weekend.”
