Dropped cylinder denies No. 1 qualifier
Robert Hight at New England Nationals

Photo credit: Ron Lewis Photography
EPPING, N.H. (June 4) – Soon, past NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion Robert Hight knows he will be in the winner’s circle.

Hight’s AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car is running too well to be denied a victory, as noted by his No. 1 qualifier for the NHRA New England Nationals this weekend at New England Dragway.

Hight, though, could use some luck on race day. Witness his first-round race Sunday against No. 16 qualifier Mike Smith. Smith struggled to get to the finish line, making a pass of 4.324 seconds at 257.92 mph.

But Hight’s car dropped a cylinder at the step of the throttle, and he struggled to keep it from spinning the tires.

Hight’s a masterful driver, and he was able to get it back to full throttle, hitting the finish line at 298.27 mph. But he was a tick behind Smith with a pass of 4.369 seconds.

“When you’re racing No. 16, you’ve got to be careful,” Hight said. “But we dropped a cylinder at the hit, and that screws up the power and everything else. It goes out there and it rattles, and I gave it a quick pedal and hooked it back up. Literally, we needed about 20 more feet and we would’ve got him.”

Instead, Hight will head to Englishtown, N.J., site of next weekend’s NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, coming off only his second first-round loss of the season.

Hight has been hot lately, using the skills of crew chief Jimmy Prock and co-crew chief Chris Cunningham to reach one final and two semifinals in the previous five races. Plus, he’s qualified fourth or better in four of the last five races.

“It wasn’t meant to be,” Hight said. “Our car’s running good, and we’ve got to put (Epping) behind us and move to Englishtown and make four good qualifying and win some rounds on race day. That’s our goal right now.”

4-Second Reads:
Best Qualifying Effort: 3.822 sec./336.74 mph (Round 3); Qualified No. 1
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 4.369 sec./298.27, lost to No. 16 Mike Smith, 4.324 sec./257.92 mph; vs. Smith – now 1-1 all-time; 0-1 this season; 0-1 at Epping
Set fastest speed this weekend at 336.74 mph (fifth time in nine races this season)
Hight is now 11-9 this season in 20 elimination rounds.
Hight is now 2-5 at New England Dragway in seven elimination rounds.
Hight is now 82-43 all-time in 125 elimination rounds from the No. 1 qualifying spot.
Hight is now 384-246 all-time in 630 elimination rounds.
Funny Car Points Standings: 1. Ron Capps, 827; 2. Matt Hagan, 748; 3. Courtney Force, 564; 4. Robert Hight, 561; 5. John Force, 555.