INDY DAY 2: Auto Club driver Robert Hight improves
but stays No. 2 in U.S. Nationals qualifying
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2) – Robert Hight maintained the No. 2 position in the Funny Car class after the second day of qualifying for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on Saturday at Lucas Oil Raceway, but improved his time significantly in drag racing’s most prestigious race.
Hight, driving the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS, posted a best time of 3.807 seconds at 333.91 mph, the second -quickest time in Funny Car competition. The time came in the evening session, also the third of five sessions over three days of qualifying, and tied the second-quickest of Hight’s career, set in July at Sonoma Raceway in California.
The final day of qualifying is Sunday, with two sessions, at 12:45 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. Eastern. Both sessions are part of the annual Traxxas Shootout (first round and finals, respectively), a special race that awards the winner of an eight-car field $100,000. The semifinals will be held in between those qualifying session.
Hight also posted the quickest time in the second session earlier Saturday at 3.848 seconds at 336.23 mph. With the second quickest in Friday’s evening session, Hight continues to edge closer to the points lead, and he enters Sunday having already tallied 11 bonus points, with a maximum of eight still up for grabs.
“That’s what we came here to do,” Hight said. “The only thing we’ve missed out on so far is one bonus point. We ran in the .80s in the cool, and in the heat, that .84 today, that was an impressive run. That’s what we need to look forward to for tomorrow, to win this Traxxas Shootout. Three of those, I think that’ll get the job done.
“Good job to the team. We were really pushing tonight. We were trying to run in the .70s and 340 mph, but it put some cylinders out down there. It’s pretty hard to be disgusted with a 3.80. There’s only a couple drivers who have ever run 3.80.
“But when your sights are set high like ours, we’re trying. We’re wanting to raise the bar and run a big number.
“I’ve been in the Traxxas Shootout final the last three years – it’s time to win this thing.”
Hight, Courtney Force and John Force remained 2-3-4 in Funny Car, with Courtney Force improving her elapsed time with a pass of 3.837 seconds at 334.90 mph in her Advance Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro SS.
John Force’s quickest run came Friday, when he turned in a time of 3.849 seconds at 336.74 mph in his PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS. All three Funny Car drivers have set their track-bests in time and speed this weekend.
In the Top Fuel category, Brittany Force jumped from No. 12 Friday to No. 8 after the two Saturday sessions, taking a best time of 3.734 seconds at 269.83 mph in Saturday’s evening session, which was good enough for No. 6 at the time.
Her first run Saturday, 3.747 seconds at 329.50 mph, came in the opening-round of the Top Fuel category’s Traxxas Shootout. While Force matched Tony Schumacher on elapsed time, Schumacher edged her at the line to win on a holeshot.