Robert Hight has refocused his racing efforts to the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. In fact, Hight began preparing for the playoffs right when he learned that he would be starting out of the sixth spot in the NHRA’s six event finale.
Therefore, the 2009 Funny Car champion is locked in for the Countdown to the Championship opener at zMAX Dragway. The race takes place at the ninth annual Carolina Nationals on September 16th. Robert Hight will have a weekend off after the All-Star Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Nevertheless, the hot-rod artist is wasting no time honing in on starting the Countdown to the Championship.
“I started focusing on Charlotte and the rest of the Countdown as soon as the race in Indy was over,” Robert Hight said. “I got together with my team, and we have a plan to get some rest and get everything organized for Charlotte. Right now the focus is on getting the last few bugs worked out of this new Auto Club Camaro SS Funny Car. We were just a couple of adjustments away in Indy. I think this race car might be better than the one we had before.”
Top Fuel dragster Antron “Get Down” Brown, Funny Car specialist Del Worsham and Pro Stock phenom Erica Enders all found glory at Charlotte a year ago. This years event will be broadcast for racing enthusiasts on FOX Sports 1 for the first time.
The four victors at the NHRA Carolina Nationals ended up world champions. That’s precisely why Robert Hight emphasizes the importance of a quick start at the upgraded racing facility. This will be the first time since 2007 that the track in Charlotte will host the first race in the Countdown to the Championship.
Robert Hight is no stranger to the benefits that come with a victory in the opening race of the playoffs. In 2009, he started in the tenth spot at the beginning of the race for the title. Hight won the NHRA Carolina Nationals and used that momentum to fuel his championship run. Furthermore, the veteran has reeled in four wins at the quarter-mile drag strip.
“The first race is important because you can make up ground on the drivers in front of you with a good start,” said Hight. “I think it gives you a lot of confidence to start Charlotte on a strong note. We have had a lot of success in Charlotte as a team.”
Robert Hight and his crew chief Mike Neff head to Charlotte after an impressive showing at Indy. All of this was accomplished despite a huge explosion while qualifying. The savvy driver progressed to the finals in the Traxxas Nitro Shootout. Hight was stopped there by his John Force Racing teammate Courtney Force.
He drove his Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro to a win in the elimination round but again was defeated by eventual winner Matt Hagan. Robert Hight has found glory once on the 2016 season and hopes to build on that until the last race of the playoffs is finished.
“The biggest goal every season is to win races and win the championship. Right now we are right on track. We are in the middle of one of the toughest Funny Car fields ever I think, and we are one of 10 teams that have a chance to get that Mello Yello championship trophy this season.” commented Robert Hight.
The loaded Funny Car field is led by Ron Capps. Capps has won five contests this season and starts the Countdown to the Championship as the points leader. Robert Hight will also have to navigate through plenty of other superstars. Not to mention the reigning and defending world champion Del Worsham.
Del Worsham dominated the playoffs in 2015 by winning four races on his way to a championship. Robert Hight’s teammates Courtney and John Force along with two-time world champion Robert Hagan are a few more familiar faces he will have to contend with.
“My mindset doesn’t really change,” Hight said. “I want to have a good start on Friday of qualifying. That has been the key all season. When we start off Friday with a good run or two, we do well. If you don’t start off on Friday well, you are behind the eight-ball the rest of the weekend. Now is when you don’t need any little mistakes to trip you up.”
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3:15 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 16th. The final two rounds of qualifying will go down on Saturday, September 17th at 12:45 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 18th.
