Robert Hight and the Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS will look to capture the regular season championship this weekend as they head to the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with a 250-point grip on the Funny Car points lead.
Third on the Funny Car all-time win list behind only John Force (155) and Ron Capps (70), Hight is chasing career win number 60 as well as a career best season. Currently leading the points standings off six event wins in his Jimmy Prock and Chris Cunningham tuned Auto Club Camaro, Hight is poised to become just the sixth Funny Car driver to win as many as seven races in a single season.
Included in his nearly 60 career wins are three U.S. National victories (2006, 2008 and 2013). Hight’s only No. 1 start was in 2009 when he lost in the final round to teammate Ashley Force Hood but, in so doing, qualified for the Countdown in the 10th and final position. He would go on to win the first of his three championships, becoming the only driver in any category to win from a last place start.
“The U.S. Nationals are a big deal, there’s a lot going on this weekend with the five qualifying runs and the Callout,” Hight said. “Most importantly, it’s the final race before the Countdown begins. This Auto Club Chevy team has worked hard all season, that’s what’s gotten us to the points lead. Doing well at the Big Go will carry over to the Countdown, where the points reset and we really have to be on it. It’s going to be a long weekend, hopefully we can make it worth is and come out with a win or even two.”
In addition to regularly scheduled competition, this weekend’s U.S. Nationals will also play host to the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout. Based on qualifying efforts throughout the season, Hight and the Auto Club team have earned the No. 1 cede and the right to be the first to callout their opponent for the specialty race taking place during qualifying on Sunday. Hight has never won a specialty event however, he reached the final round the last four times the Traxxas Nitro Shootout was contested (2014-2017).
Competition at the prestigious U.S. Nationals kicks off with five rounds of qualifying beginning Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. with two runs Saturday at 2:45 and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Eliminations are set to begin on Monday at 10 a.m. The Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Funny Car Callout will be Sunday with first round at 1:20 p.m., semifinals at 2:45 p.m. and final round a 4:55 p.m. Television coverage of qualifying and the Callout will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with shows Sunday at 1, 4 and 5:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations coverage will be split with a show at Noon ET on FS1 and the 2 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.
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