Championship Drag Racing

Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Chicago, Ill.
(June 5-8)

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Driver Profile

Robert Hight Auto Club Ford Mustang

Chicago, Sunday: Championship contender Robert Hight fell to a female racer for the first time in his career when he dropped his opening round race against teammate and sister-in-law Ashley Force. Hight the “favorite” to win the Funny Car Championship according to team owner John Force lost traction just past mid-track when his tune-up overpowered the track conditions.

“It was just too fast. We had an issue with the clutch and it had clutch levers out early. It was probably making more power than normal. Coupled with the clutch coming too fast the track just wouldn’t take it. I thought it was going to make it,” said the former JFR clutch man.

Hight was able to take a positive from his run considering his Auto Club of Southern California team spent most of the night rebuilding his hot rod from the ground up.

“The motor to that point was nice. It was on eight cylinders it didn’t have any pan pressure so the motor wasn’t hurt. We took a step backwards and changed the nitro mix,” said the only driver to lead the Funny Car points at least once the last four seasons. “Honestly I am pretty impressed with (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) that he made it all work. It was kind of a shot in the dark. He got it in one run. I am impressed Jimmy hit it with the first shot”

Even with the positives of getting his motor happy Hight knows that the clock it ticking on his chances to get towards the top of the point standings. He knows that he and the Auto Club Ford Mustang team need to go rounds.

“We got bit by something today (clutch malfunction). That kind of stuff has to end with the racing that is out here. Luck is a lot of it. There are a lot of guys getting some lucky rounds out here and we aren’t getting any. We are hurting ourselves and we have to quit that,” said a motivated Hight. 

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