Chicago would be great place for Auto Club
driver Robert Hight to score first win of 2017

JOLIET, Ill. (July 3) – After a runner-up finish in the most recent NHRA race, in Norwalk, Ohio, Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS driver Robert Hight figures there is only one more step to make in the next race: Win.

That’s the goal for Hight and his John Force Racing team in the Fallen Patriots Route 66 NHRA Nationals this weekend at Route 66 Raceway. Hight raced to the final in Norwalk but an issue with the clutch caused him to smoke the tires and come up short.

“We want to go and build on a runner-up finish that we had in Norwalk and put four good runs on Sunday together,” Hight said. “We know we can do it. We’ve just got to get it done. We came up one round short last week. The way I look at it, there’s only one way to go from there, and that’s get that fourth run in.”

Hight has been to two final rounds in Chicago, the last in 2010. But he’s still searching for his first victory here – as well as his first win of 2017.

“Never have gotten a win in Chicago,” Hight said. “My team is focused. (Crew chief) Jimmy Prock and my guys have been helping John (Force’s) team. We’re going to have very similar cars, and I think that’s going to help us both this weekend, being able to work together and help each other. With any luck, both of us will be in the final.”

Force tested at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, continuing the evolution of the team’s Chevy Funny Cars.

Hight and Force will be busy this week. Force will throw out the first pitch before the World Champion Chicago Cubs play the Tampa Bay Rays at historic Wrigley Field on Wednesday. Though Hight is a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, he will be in attendance, and he and Force will sign autographs at the PEAK display at Wrigley during the game.

Afterward, Hight and Force will make an appearance at the Advance Auto Parts store at 2223 North Cicero Avenue in Chicago from 5-6:30 p.m., signing autographs and meeting fans and Advance Auto employees.

Thursday morning, Hight and Force will tour Old World Industries – PEAK’s parent company – in Northbrook, Ill. Hight and Force will also participate in the NHRA press conference on Thursday in downtown Chicago, followed by an appearance for Safety Kleen at Chicagoland Speedway, across from Route 66 Raceway.

“This is a fun weekend for us,” Hight said. “I’m a big baseball fan and will get to watch John throw out the first pitch at the Cubs game, which is cool, given they won the world championship last year. It’s the second-oldest stadium in baseball, lots of history.

“We’re going in to PEAK country, Old World Industries. We’ve got a lot of work to do for them, which keep us busy.”

The 20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals begins Friday with two qualifying sessions – at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Central time (7 and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time). The third and fourth rounds of qualifying are scheduled for 4 and 6:45 p.m. Central on Saturday (televised live at 5 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1). Final round eliminations are scheduled for noon Central on Sunday (televised live at 3 p.m. Eastern on FS1).

4-Second Reads:

Robert Hight has competed in 13 races at Route 66 Raceway and qualified for every race since 2008. His first race came in 2005.
Hight has advanced to the finals at Route 66 Raceway twice – in 2006 and 2010. He is still looking for his first victory at the track.
Hight is 13-12 in 25 elimination rounds at Route 66 Raceway.
Two of Hight’s 50 No. 1 qualifying efforts have come at Route 66 Raceway – in 2005 and 2010.
Hight is 8-4 in first-round elimination matchups at Route 66 Raceway.
Hight is currently fourth in Funny Car points standings.
In his career, Hight has 37 victories, 390 elimination-round wins, and 50 No. 1 qualifying spots.
Hight’s most recent NHRA victory – 2016 NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Hight’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, N.H.
Hight’s best time/speed at Chicago – 3.894 seconds (2016 Q2); 328.06 mph (2016 E2)
Hight’s best time/speed of career – 3.822 seconds (2017 Epping Q3); 338.68 mph (2017 Topeka E1)
Hight’s daughter Autumn will bring out the lineup card to the umpires ahead of Wednesday’s Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, scheduled for 1:20 p.m. Central against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Force and Robert Hight will participate in a meet and greet and autograph session from 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Advance Auto Parts at 2223 North Cicero Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639.
Hight and Force will take part in a tour of Old World Industries on Thursday morning. OWI owns PEAK, the primary sponsor on Force’s car.
Force and Hight will participate in a media luncheon Thursday at the River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle Dr., in downtown Chicago. Media interested in attending should contact Lee Montgomery at lmontgomery@johnforceracing.com for times and reservation.