Three-time world champion Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS team have kept themselves top two in the points standings through six events on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule. A victory at this weekend’s Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park will put Hight and the Auto Club team back on top.
After winning the season opening Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Calif. and the Arizona Nationals at Phoenix, Hight went onto secure the No. 1 qualifying position at the Gatornationals in Gainesville and then went No. 2 in Houston before a second-round exit. The Auto Club Chevy kept up its consistency racing to a runner-up finish at zMAX Dragway for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, beaten by only teammate and boss John Force. The steady performance from Hight and his Auto Club team has kept them second in the points standings, now just 22 points away from leader Matt Hagan.
“It’s been a decent start to the season for this Auto Club team. We’ve had some consistency which is what we lacked last year,” Hight said. “We just need to keep it going. There’s room for improvement, there’s always room for improvement and I think this team has high expectations. Jimmy Prock and Christ Cunningham are two of the best so it’s hard not to be confident with them on your side. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in Richmond. Really glad to be heading back after a couple years. Hopefully we can pull out a win and get this Auto Club Chevy in the winners circle and back in the points lead.”
Hight is the track record holder for speed at Virginia Motorsports Park at 326.32 mph (May 17, 2019). The Virginia Nationals is the only event in which Robert hasn’t either reached the final round or qualified No. 1 in his Auto Club Chevrolet SS. In five starts at Virginia Motorsports Park, Hight has advanced as far as the second round but holds the track speed record at 326.32 mph from May 17, 2019, the last time the Virginia NHRA Nationals were contested.
Qualifying at the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park begins Friday with a night session at 8:10 p.m. and continues Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at noon. The Virginia NHRA Nationals will be televised on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning with a qualifying show Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET and a second qualifying show Sunday at 9:00 a.m. ET. Finals coverage will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
JFR PR
