Denver winner Robert Hight looks to stay
hot in Sonoma with Auto Club Chevrolet

SONOMA, Calif. (July 25) – Robert Hight, driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro, heads into this weekend’s NHRA Nationals at Sonoma Raceway as the only driver in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car class that can sweep the Western Swing.
“You can’t sweep it unless you win Denver,” Hight said.

And Hight did just that – ending a 34-race drought in winning the Mile-High Nationals last weekend at Bandimere Speedway, his fourth career victory at the track. Now, he sets his sights on Sonoma, where he has won once (2008). He is gunning for a third final-round appearance in four races and second consecutive victory. He last posted consecutive wins in 2014, when he won three straight early in the season.
“We’re pretty happy with where we’re at, especially where we’ve been qualifying every week,” said Hight, who has qualified No. 3 or better in seven consecutive races. “We have a good combination, a fast car … it’s pretty stout with what we’ve done in qualifying. It shows we have good performance. Once we get consistency on race day – I think we’re there, (crew chief) Jimmy’s (Prock) already made a lot of changes last week to prevent dropping cylinders – we’re gonna win some races.
“The Western Swing is my favorite time of the year,” the 2009 Funny Car champion added. “I remember being a crew member on the Western Swing and how much work it was, but at the same time how much fun it is.”
The native Californian, who now lives in Yorba Linda near John Force Racing’s headquarters, grew up in Alturas in the northern part of the state. Sonoma is the closest track on the NHRA circuit to Hight’s hometown, about five-and-a-half hours away. It is the track where he first watched his boss and teammate, John Force, compete in person. As a fan, a crewmember and now a driver, Hight has been to every Funny Car race at Sonoma.
“I’m excited about going to Sonoma,” said Hight, who moved to third in the Funny Car points standings with his Denver victory. “This is the first race I ever attended as a fan. I’ve won it once and want to win it again.”
Coming off his first victory in more than a year, Hight has other reasons to be excited. He’ll again drive the Camaro that sports the special California Highway Patrol paint-scheme, which he contested in the season-opener at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The car will pay tribute to the California Highway Patrol, a state law enforcement agency whose name originated from a fleet of American Automobile Association trucks sporting signs with “Highway Patrol” written on them.
He is also sporting a special-painted CHP helmet, which will be auctioned off by the Auto Club of Southern California later this year.
“We got a lot of attention from that car at Pomona,” Hight said. “We’ll run it again at the season-finale at Pomona, but it’ll be great to put that car in winner’s circle at Sonoma.”
The NHRA Nationals begins Friday, with two nitro qualifying sessions at 5 and 8 p.m. Pacific (televised live on Fox Sports 1). Two more qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. Saturday (televised at 10 p.m.), with elimination rounds commencing at 11 a.m. Sunday (live television coverage beginning at 4 p.m.).
4-Second Reads:
Robert Hight has competed in 12 races at Sonoma Raceway and qualified for every race since 2005, his rookie season.
Hight has advanced to the finals once at Sonoma Raceway, in 2008, and he went on to defeat Gary Densham.
Hight is 16-11 in 27 elimination rounds at Sonoma Raceway.
Hight has qualified No. 1 at Sonoma once, in 2006.
Hight has won 10 of 12 first-round elimination matchups at Bandimere Speedway. His
In his career, Hight has 38 victories, 394 elimination-round wins, and 51 No. 1 qualifying spots.
Hight’s most recent NHRA victory – 2017 Mile-High Nationals in Morrison, Colo.
Hight’s most recent No. 1 qualifying effort – 2017 NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Epping, N.H.
Hight’s best time/speed at Sonoma – 3.874 seconds (2016 Q2); 327.03 mph (2016 Q2)
Hight’s best time/speed of career – 3.822 seconds (2017 Epping Q3); 338.68 mph (2017 Topeka E1)