Robert Hight takes Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet to Englishtown semis

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 11) – Robert Hight took the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to the semifinals of Sunday’s NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the 10th stop of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Hight qualified No. 2 – with a track-record speed – and was among the top three quickest drivers in the first three qualifying sessions. He defeated J.R. Todd and Tommy Johnson Jr. in the first and second rounds, respectively, despite dropping cylinders on both passes. His second pass was still the second quickest time of the session.

Hight got the jump on No. 3 qualifier Ron Capps in the semifinals with a .082-second reaction time, to Capps’s .096 light. Hight led at the 60-foot mark but soon spun the rear tires. Capps went ahead by the 330-foot line and cruised to the victory and the finals.

“It wasn’t our day,” said Hight, who was seeking his first Englishtown victory. “We keep beating ourselves and have to do a better job. We had four great runs in qualifying, and there’s no reason why we can’t make four great runs on race day.

“All we can do is go to the next one and keep working hard. Hard work is the only thing that is going to dig us out of this hole and turn things around.”

Hight remains positive that the team will continue contesting for victories. The next opportunity is next weekend’s Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

“We have the team chemistry and everything we need,” said Hight, now fifth in Funny Car points standings. “We just have to do a better job.”

4-Second Reads:

Best Qualifying Effort: 3.880 seconds/332.43 mph (Round 1); Qualified No. 2
Elimination Round 1 (Left Lane): 4.880 seconds/189.10 mph, def. No. 15 J.R. Todd, 13.961 seconds/64.63 mph; vs. Todd – now 2-0 all-time; 2-0 this season; 1-0 at Englishtown
Elimination Round 2 (Quarterfinals, Right Lane): 4.048 seconds/314.75 mph, def. No. 7 Tommy Johnson Jr., 4.515 seconds/195.05 mph; vs. Johnson – now 15-11 all-time; 1-2 this season; 1-1 at Englishtown
Elimination Round 3 (Semifinals, Left Lane): 6.302 seconds/107.84 mph, lost to No. 3 Ron Capps, 4.195 seconds/260.31 mph; vs. Capps – now 30-27 all-time; 0-4 this season; 0-1 at Englishtown
Set fastest speed this weekend at 332.43 mph (sixth time in 10 races this season)
Hight is now 13-10 this season in 23 elimination rounds.
Hight is now 12-13 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in 25 elimination rounds.
Hight is now 60-30 all-time in 90 elimination rounds from the No. 2 qualifying spot.
Hight is now 386-247 all-time in 633 elimination rounds.
Funny Car Points Standings: 1. Ron Capps, 931; 2. Matt Hagan, 802; 3. Jack Beckman, 652; 4. Courtney Force, 648; 5. Robert Hight, 645; T-6. John Force, 587; T-6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 587.