Robert Hight Wins another NHRA Funny Car Championship.

Photo Credit: Ron Lewis.

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11) – Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight ran the gamut of emotions during the Auto Club NHRA Finals this weekend at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

In the end, it was pure elation, as Hight captured the 2017 Funny Car championship.

“It’s been an eventful weekend,” Hight said. “Twenty-four hours ago, I wasn’t even qualified for this event, and we were leading the points. We got it together, got in the 15th spot. If you’re in, you have a chance, especially when you have a team like we’ve got with (crew chief) Jimmy Prock, (co-crew chief) Chris Cunningham. You just believe that those guys are a couple adjustments away from turning this thing around.”

The right adjustments were made, and Hight sped to a first-round win over Tim Wilkerson that eliminated John Force Racing teammate Courtney Force from title contention. Then, Del Worsham knocked off second-place Ron Capps, and Hight had the second championship of his career – this one coming eight years after his first.

“Del Worsham came over to me before first round and said, ‘I don't think I can outrun him, but I’m not going to give it to him. I’m going to make sure my car goes down the track,’” Hight said. “Del Worsham did the right thing by making it go down the track. It’s pretty cool; it’s been 10 years since Chevrolet has won a championship in Funny Car, and we’re back.”

Hight came into the final race of the 2017 season leading by 20 points over Capps, but struggles in qualifying dropped that to eight before race day. Hight and his team struggled to get down the track in qualifying, and Hight had to pedal his Chevrolet Camaro SS in the final session to get in the 16-car field at No. 15.

But Prock and Cunningham tuned Hight to an incredible pass of 3.839 seconds at 332.51 mph in the first round Sunday, and qualifying was forgotten. Hight made another stellar run in the second and third rounds, beating Courtney Force in the semifinals to reach his seventh final of the season.

After getting the win light, though, the engine in Hight’s Auto Club car exploded, and the Camaro darted from left from the right lane.

Force, fortunately, had slowed from tire smoke and wasn’t close to Hight as he bounced off the wall in the left lane. The concussion from the explosion knocked the parachute handle out of Hight’s reach, but he was busy trying to control the car and slow it down.

Eventually, it reached the gravel pit past top end and ran into the nets. Hight was unhurt, but the car was too damaged to continue. The team brought out a backup chassis and a third body; the first, sporting a special California Highway Patrol paint scheme, was damaged in Q4.

The third body was built for Brittany Force’s Funny Car, and the JFR team had to swap decals for the final round.

There, Hight went up in smoke against Tommy Johnson Jr. and couldn’t get the race win, but the championship trophy was his.

“That was a crazy, crazy run,” Hight said. “When I got back to the pits, there were Advance crew members and PEAK crew members, and we really rallied to get this thing back together.”

But that was typical of JFR this season. John Force brought Prock and Cunningham to the team, and eventually moved them to lead Hight’s group. Hight responded with four victories – and two in the Countdown to the Championship – and national records in elapsed time (3.793 seconds) and speed (339.87 mph).

“We did a lot of work over the winter to put John Force Racing back together,” Hight said. “This was kind of a building year. It’s crazy how this building year turned into a dream. We could’ve never dreamed that we’d win two championships.

“Everybody worked their tail off and was quiet and knew they had a job to do. This is just huge for John Force Racing. For a couple of years, we have struggled but it is such a great group. We signed a long-term deal with Auto Club and they deserve better than what we were giving them. Jimmy Prock, Chris Cunningham they got us back in the game. It’s been a long time and you want it so bad.”

And Hight joined legends like John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme, Raymond Beadle, Matt Hagan, Frank Hawley, Cruz Pedregon and Tony Pedregon as a two-time Funny Car champion.

“Not many guys can say they are a two-time champion,” Hight said. “There are only a handful of guys who are a two-time Funny Car champ.”

But Hight was quick to credit his team at the race track – and the guys back at John Force Racing in Brownsburg, Ind.

“We have a bunch of people back in Indianapolis at Force American Made who we need to really thank,” Hight said. “They build all this stuff. They build our race cars, mount our bodies, build all of our parts, engine parts, clutch parts and superchargers. These guys run those Hurco machines, and they really work their butts off. This championship is as much for them as it is for us.”

Story and Photo Credit Courtesy JFR-PR Lee Montgomery & Michael Harker.

RACING LEGENDS REUNITE AT AUTO CLUB 400

FONTANA, Calif. (March 13, 2017) – Roger Penske, Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip, and Rusty Wallace are reuniting for a “Legends Q&A” session to share their racing stories and memorable moments prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 on Sunday, March 26. Moderated by Jamie Little, NASCAR on FOX Pit Reporter, the Legends Q&A session is open to all ticket holders and scheduled from 9:40 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on the main stage in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone.

“These racing legends have so many great stories,” said Dave Allen, President of Auto Club Speedway. “We are honored to have them as our special guests and can’t wait to share this unique experience with our fans.”

The Legendary Panel includes:

·       Roger Penske: A true visionary and accomplished racing legend that built and created Auto Club Speedway, a world-class motorsports facility in the heart of Southern California.

·       Richard Petty: While he never raced at Auto Club Speedway, “The King” has raced at the former Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Speedway. NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty is the most decorated driver in the history of NASCAR racing, winning a record number 200 career races and seven NASCAR Cup championships.

·       Michael Waltrip: The two-time Daytona 500 winner, racing commentator and part-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver, Waltrip made his track debut at Auto Club Speedway in 1997.

·       Rusty Wallace: His 2001 NASCAR Cup victory at Auto Club Speedway was a memorable moment as he held off Jeff Gordon for the win. The NASCAR Hall of Famer is a retired American racing driver and a former NASCAR Cup Champion. 

Auto Club Speedway celebrates its 20^th Anniversary Reunion at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Auto Club 400 race weekend - March 24-26. With a race ticket, fans have access to 20^th Anniversary celebrations in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone including the special Q&A, historic show cars on display, and musical entertainment.

To purchase tickets or upgrade ticket packages to NASCAR’s Auto Club 400 Weekend at Auto Club Speedway, call 1-800-944-RACE (7223), shop online at www.autoclubspeedway.com.  

(News Release Courtesy: Hillary Angel of ACS)

Auto Club Speedway Fan Fest in Fontana, CA.

NEW HAULER PARADE ROUTE AND FANFEST RETURNS ON 

THURSDAY NIGHT TO KICK OFF NASCAR AUTO CLUB 400

What:   Back by popular demand, FanFest welcomes the community to celebrate Auto Club Speedway’s 20^th Anniversary and to kick-off the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 race weekend.  The signature parade of over 40 NASCAR Haulers has a new route throughout the facility where fans can wave, take photos and cheer for their favorite NASCAR driver and race team.  

The free community event features NASCAR driver appearances on the main stage, live music, vendors and family-friendly entertainment in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone at Auto Club Speedway.

In the spirit of the Speedway’s 20^th Anniversary “Track Reunion” theme, two lucky Infield fans will be crowned Homecoming King & Queen by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver, Darrell Waltrip. 

4:00 pm. – 6:00 p.m. NASCAR Haulers Staged in Lot 1 – Viewing Area

5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Last Call Performance on Main Stage

6 p.m. – 6:25 p.m.             Q&A: NASCAR XFINITY Driver Darrell Wallace Jr.

6:30 p.m. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Parade 

7:20 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. Q&A: Austin Dillon Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver

7:40 p.m. – 8 p.m. Q&A: Darrell Waltrip, NASCAR Hall of Fame Driver,

8 p.m. Announcement of Fan Homecoming King & Queen 

8 p.m. – 9 p.m. No Duh (No Doubt tribute band) on Main Stage   

When:  Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Where: Auto Club Speedway, 9300 Cherry Avenue, Fontana, CA 92359

Cost: Free to Public and Parking is Free

Info: For more information about FanFest, Hauler Parade and to purchase tickets to the Auto Club 400, call 800-944-RACE (7223), or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com/FanFest 

Press release courtesy,Hillary Angel of ACS.

Robert Hight's "New" paint scheme celebrates CHP and AAA of SoCal.

Robert Hight's CHP paint scheme celebrates California Highway Patrol, Auto Club of Southern California

Editor's note: Updating with fresh quotes. POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 8) – Past Funny Car champion Robert Hight, the Auto Club of Southern California and the California Highway Patrol introduced a special CHP paint scheme Wednesday that will adorn Hight’s Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car at the season-opening NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race. The CHP scheme will run in the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona this weekend, as well as the Auto Club NHRA Finals here in November. The unveiling was made at the NHRA press conference. The CHP scheme celebrates Auto Club of Southern California’s long relationship with the California Highway Patrol and also helps kick off the new NHRA Salutes First Responders program. “I am honored to be driving the Auto Club/CHP Chevrolet Camaro SS to kick off the 2017 NHRA season,” Hight said. “This car makes sense on so many levels. First, this car helps kick off the NHRA’s Salutes First Responders program. And second, the Auto Club and the CHP are very close partners in keeping the California highways safe for all of the motorists. My race team is very excited after our testing in Phoenix and will be very motivated to get this car in the winner’s circle.” The black-and-white Chevrolet is designed to look like a CHP cruiser and will help bring awareness to California’s Move Over law. The Move Over law, passed in 2007 and amended in 2009 to include tow trucks and construction vehicles, requires drivers to move over a lane to the left when safe to do so and/or slow down if they see a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights.   “If you’ve driven on a California freeway, you’ve seen the message on illuminated signs all over the Southland: ‘Move Over or Slow for Workers. It’s the Law,’” said Kathy Sieck, Auto Club Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Publications. “California, like every state in the union, has a move-over law designed to protect first responders, and these laws can literally be life-saving.  We want to make California drivers more aware of their responsibility so we can keep our roads safe and help protect those who protect us.” The NHRA Salutes First Responders program will highlight police, fire, medical and recovery services and the military during the 24 races on the 2017 schedule.  “It was Auto Club who decided years ago to help stranded motorists on the road,” 16-time Funny car champion John Force said. “They said, ‘We’re going out to get them.’ There was no one to protect them back then, so Auto Club stepped up with the ‘Highway Patrol Service.’ Then the CHP was founded, so Auto Club and CHP work hand-in-hand. Robert’s CHP car is really cool-looking, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it.”  Editors Note: Besides the very cool Wrap on the JFR TF/FC Driven by Robert Hight, the real hero of the event was Andrew Tachias (pronounced: Tack-E-Us). From KABC's Rob Mc Millan. "It was four years ago this week that Riverside officer Andrew Tachias was shot nine times by rogue ex-LAPD cop Christopher Dorner. Tachias didn't know at the time if he'd survive that day, much less return to the force. He had been with the department less than three months that night of Feb. 7, 2013 when he and his training officer, Michael Crain, were ambushed as they sat in their patrol car at a Riverside intersection. Crain did not survive the attack. But now after a long recovery, Tachias is slowly getting back to work. And the experience hasn't soured him on law enforcement. The college track star has been visiting his alma mater, the University of California at Riverside, to help inspire students to follow his own career path. The Riverside Police Officers Association has sponsored a scholarship in his name for student athletes who are interested in law enforcement careers". "I want them to understand the will to survive and how to fight through it," Tachias said. Editor's Note: It was my honor to talk to Andrew this week, and with a lump in my throat, I got to give him a hug. I cannot imagine what he went through, but as all of my family that is not in Motorsports, is in Law Enforcement, I have a better understanding of what goes on having been on the job as a Range Officer for many years. Dicken Wear, Editor-in-Chief.  Robert Hight CHP TF/FC Photo by: Dicken Wear Leah Pritchett, Andrew Tachias, Tony Schumacher.  Photo by: Dicken Wear  Jeffrey Spring, Robert Hight and CHP Officers.  Photo by: Dicken Wear JFR, Robert Hight TF/FC with CHP Wrap. Photo by: Dicken Wear.