NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

It didn’t take long for Robert Hight to shift his focus to the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

In fact, the 2009 Funny Car world champion was already in playoff mode the moment he learned he would be starting from the sixth position in the NHRA’s six-race playoffs. That means Hight is locked in already for the Countdown to the Championship opener, the ninth annual NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 16-18, at zMAX Dragway.

Hight may have an off weekend following the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, but the Funny Car standout is already honing in on starting the Countdown to the Championship on a strong note in his 10,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS.

“I started focusing on Charlotte and the rest of the Countdown as soon as the race in Indy was over,” Hight said. “I got together with my team, and we have a plan to get some rest and get everything organized and ready to go for Charlotte. Right now the focus is on getting the last few bugs worked out of this new Auto Club Camaro SS Funny Car. We were just a couple of adjustments away in Indy, and I think this race car might be better than the one we had before.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Del Worsham (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) bettered the competition a year ago for a race that will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 for the first time.

All four winners at the NHRA Carolina Nationals ended up with world championships, further emphasizing the importance of a good start at the state-of-the-art facility that has hosted the Countdown to the Championship opener since 2007.

But Hight didn’t need convincing of that, relying on his own history to know the impact of a win in Charlotte to start the playoffs. He started from the 10th position in 2009 but won the NHRA Carolina Nationals, using that momentum to fuel his championship run. Having a Funny Car-best four wins at the facility gives the 37-time event winner added confidence as well.
 
“The first race is important because you can make up ground on the drivers in front of you with a good start,” said Hight. “I think it gives you a lot of confidence to start Charlotte on a strong note. We have had a lot of success in Charlotte as a team.”

Hight and his team, led by crew chief Mike Neff, will head to Charlotte following a productive showing in Indy despite a massive explosion during qualifying. He advanced to the final of the NHRA Traxxas Nitro Shootout before falling to John Force Racing teammate Courtney Force and won a round in eliminations before getting knocked out by eventual winner Matt Hagan.

Hight, who has one win this season, knows there is potential for more and is excited to see that come to fruition in the Countdown to the Championship starting in Charlotte.

“My team has been together for a long time, and we know what we need to do,” Hight said. “I think we just need to stay focused and do our best. We have a great sponsor with Auto Club that gives us a lot of support and confidence. Three of the races in the Countdown are sponsored by Auto Club, so that makes it exciting, too. The biggest goal every season is to win races and win the championship. Right now we are right on track. We are in the middle of one of the toughest Funny Car fields ever I think, and we are one of 10 teams that have a chance to get that Mello Yello championship trophy this season.”

That stout Funny Car field is led by Ron Capps, who has five victories this season and will start the Countdown to the Championship with the points lead. Hight will also have to deal with plenty of other superstars, including defending world champion Worsham, who won four races in the Countdown last year; teammates Courtney and John Force; two-time world champion Hagan; Jack Beckman; Tommy Johnson Jr.; Tim Wilkerson; and Alexis DeJoria.

Despite the pressures and rigors of the Countdown to the Championship, Hight knows his team’s method for success will stay the same.
 
“My mindset doesn’t really change,” Hight said. “I want to have a good start on Friday of qualifying. That has been the key all season. When we start off Friday with a good run or two, we do well. If you don’t start off on Friday well, you are behind the eight-ball the rest of the weekend. Now is when you don’t need any little mistakes to trip you up.”
 
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3:15 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 12:45 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-455-FANS (3267). Tickets also are available online at www.zmaxdragway.com.  Kids 12 and under are free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.