Robert Hight takes Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet to No. 2 qualifying spot at Englishtown
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 10) – Robert Hight had four solid passes in qualifying for Sunday’s NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park. The key, he said, is to have four more on race day.
Hight piloted the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to the No. 2 qualifying spot in the Funny Car class for the 48th edition of the prestigious NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race in New Jersey.
His pass of 3.880 seconds at 332.43 mph in Friday’s second session set the track record for speed. Force ultimately took her 15th No. 1 of her career, tying older sister Ashley Force Hood.
But Hight said his most impressive run came Saturday. With ambient temperatures in the 80s and the track temperature surpassing 120 degrees, Hight blasted down the right lane of the track with a pass of 3.928 seconds at 322.11 mph.
He said he thought the car could have gone quicker in the final session before a slight problem with the clutch. Still, with air temperatures expected to be in the mid-90s Sunday, Hight said Q3 set the stage for race day.
“We were trying to better that – should have bettered that, but the clutch didn’t work like it was supposed to,” Hight said. “Good news is that it’s going down the track. We’ve made four good runs at this point, and we’ve got to make four more tomorrow, and will take it one at a time.”
Friday’s pass, though, was what Hight will stand on and set up his matchup against No. 15 J.R. Todd, who went 4.059 seconds at 315.86 mph in the final of his four runs. The pair only have one prior matchup, which Hight won at Houston en route to competing in the finals.
Hight is still looking for his first victory of the season, after recording the No. 1 qualifying position last weekend at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
“We gained points in all but one run and went down the track on every single run,” Hight said. “Tomorrow is a new day, with a lot of tough cars. Anytime you race a Kalitta car in the first round, that’s a tough matchup. You don’t expect to qualify No. 2 and get one of those guys.
“We have a good set up. The first round is liable to be as hot as it was today. We’ve got to race the race track, not our opponents. I’m proud of my guys – to make four runs like that is pretty impressive.”
Elimination rounds begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Sunday, with taped delay television coverage beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1.
4-Second Reads:
Qualifying Round 1 (Left Lane): 3.920 seconds/325.14 mph; straight down the track (No. 2 of session and No. 2 overall; two bonus points)
Qualifying Round 2 (Right Lane): 3.880 seconds/332.43; another great pass and track speed record (No. 2 of session and No. 2 overall; two bonus points in session and four points overall)
Qualifying Round 3 (Right Lane): 3.928 seconds/322.11 mph; impressive pass in heat (No. 1 of session and No. 2 overall; three bonus points in session and seven points overall)
Qualifying Round 4 (Left Lane): 3.977 seconds/315.71 mph; straight down the groove (No. 5 of session and No. 2 overall; no bonus points of session and seven points overall)
This is the third time this year Hight has qualified No. 2. He also qualified No. 2 at Gainesville, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C.
Hight has qualified in the No. 2 spot 36 times and has six victories, 10 finals, and 58 round wins in 87 elimination rounds.
Hight’s most recent victory from the No. 2 qualifying position in 2014 in Denver, Colo., when he defeated team owner John Force.
Hight has never won at Englishtown; he has three semifinals at the track. He has a 9-12 elimination round record at the track.
Hight’s matchup against J.R. Todd marks only the second time the two will compete in an elimination round. Hight won the only other matchup in Houston before eventually making it to the finals.