HIGHT AUTO CLUB CHEVROLET TEAM TRAXXAS SHOOT-OUT RUNNER-UP
INDIANAPOLIS — For the 20th time John Force Racing had a representative in a big money specialty race at Lucas Oil Raceway but unfortunately Robert Hight and the Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS were not able to become the tenth JFR winner as he came up just short of winning the 4th annual Traxxas Nitro Shootout and the $100,000 winner’s paycheck. In a tight final Hight took a starting line advantage against Jack Beckman but at the finish line Beckman snuck around the three-time Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals champion 4.051 seconds to 4.138 seconds.
“We went down the track every run. For some reason, on none of the runs it didn’t run as good as (Mike) Neff wanted it to. We were chasing something. We changed engines last night, but no excuses. For some reason it was just down on power for whatever reason today. So, we are going to work hard tonight,” said Hight in his hauler after the final. “The biggest deal is to get this Shootout for these guys. Yes, we wanted to win a hundred grand, but the big deal is to make sure we fix it for tomorrow. Tomorrow is really when you want to win. If you had to pick one or the other, tomorrow is what you would pick. But truthfully, we wanted both.”
This was Hight’s second consecutive Traxxas Shootout final round and the 2009 NHRA Funny Car champion earned his spot by winning the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd two weeks ago. Hight took out Matt Hagan and then Tim Wilkerson to reach the final.
In the semi-finals Robert Hight and his Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS took out Ford backed Tim Wilkerson 4.102 to 4.165 seconds. The round win advanced Hight to his second consecutive Traxxas Shootout final round. The next pair featured Jack Beckman outrunning teammate Ron Capps, 4.027 to 4.122 seconds.
First round John Force and his Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car lost to Ron Capps 4.148 to 4.033 seconds in the first pair. Force a two-time Traxxas Shoot-Out winner will not have a chance to defend his title this season but did record a respectable time for eliminations tomorrow. Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS driver Robert Hight advanced to the second round after Matt Hagan red-lit. Hight who ran 4.069 seconds in eth first round will face Tim Wilkerson who defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. 4.035 to 4.390 seconds. Hight will give up lane choice to Wilkerson in the semi-finals. The last JFR Chevrolet Camaro with a chance to head to the semi-finals was fan vote lottery winner Courtney Force driving the Traxxas Chevrolet Camaro SS who was taken out by No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman 4.113 to 4.052 seconds.