Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car team remain in the hunt for the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series points lead as they head to the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway this Father’s Day weekend. The three-time championship team is just 41 points away sitting in second.
With back-to-back victories to open the season at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. and the Arizona Nationals just outside of Phoenix as well as a victory at the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park where he shared the stage with Top Fuel teammate Brittany Force, Hight and the Auto Club team have consistently been in the conversation. Led by crew chiefs Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham the Auto Club Chevy has continually been one of the Funny Cars to beat through these first eight races.
“Not a bad start to the season, eight races in with three wins and second in points,” Hight said. “This Auto Club team is definitely looking for more though. We need to stay consistent, keep working hard and take it one run at a time. The class is really competitive, we were the first to three wins but we aren’t the only ones now and we need to keep it going. That’s the goal heading to Bristol. I haven’t won there in a while and it would be great to get it done on Father’s Day with my daughter, Autumn, there with me.”
Hight is the only John Force Racing driver, other than John Force, to have won the Thunder Valley Nationals. Hight picked up his win in 2011. Bristol Dragway is one of only two tracks in the series on which he never has started a race from the No. 1 qualifying position. Last season, Hight raced his way to the semifinals, his best finish at the facility since his 2011 victory.
Racing at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway begins with qualifying Friday night at 8 p.m. and continues with Saturday with sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin Father’s Day Sunday at noon. Television coverage of qualifying will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) beginning Friday at 8 p.m. ET and continues Saturday at 11 p.m. ET. Eliminations will be on FOX Broadcasting Network Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
JFR PR
