Points leader Robert Hight and the Auto Club of Southern California Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car team are headed to the second four-wide event, the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, determined to add to their early season success.
The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has been full of triumphs for Hight and the Auto Club team. They’ve had three back-to-back No. 1 qualifiers and three victories starting with the Winternationals and 50th anniversary Gatornationals. The team had a slight misstep beginning at the first four-wide event of the season in Las Vegas where they made an exit in the first quad and then struggled during Friday qualifying at the most recent SpringNationals in Houston. Led by the masterminds of Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham, the Auto Club team was able to regain their championship form Saturday during qualifying to secure the No. 5 position and took home their third Wally on Sunday in a John Force Racing double-up victory with Brittany Force.
“This season has been off to a really great start for this team. I’ve never seen a more focused group of guys and they get the job done. The weather conditions were all over the place in Houston and we were able to get this thing where it needed to be to get the win,” said Hight. “We had a week off and now we’re getting back into it and hoping to come back out on top in Charlotte.”
Hight has a list of achievements at zMAX Dragway including two wins in the four-wide format in 2012, when he was also No. 1 qualifier, and 2014, he also was No.1 qualifier in 2010. In addition, he has won three times in the fall event in 2009, 2013 and 2017. With five wins from both the spring and fall events, Hight is the winningest Funny Car driver at the facility and holds the track speed record of 333.91 mph. At last year’s four-wide event Hight had a quarterfinal finish in his Chevy Camaro Funny Car falling short to Cruz Pedregon and Tommy Johnson Jr. to make a final quad appearance.
“We came out swinging in Houston and made some really good runs so I’m proud of this Auto Club team. We already have four wins this season and its because they’re so good. They really keep me in check,” said Hight. “After the weekend we had we’re really looking to keep it up in Charlotte and leave there with our fourth win of the season. I think we can do it.”
Qualifying for the NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals begins on Friday with qualifying sessions at 4:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., and Saturday at 2:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eliminations start at 12 noon on Sunday. Check out coverage on FS1 Friday from 8 to 9 p.m. ET, Saturday from 10 to 11 p.m. ET and Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. ET.
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