<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/r_hight06.jpg" alt="r_hight06" align="left"borders-"0"/>
Ennis, TX (Sept. 25, 2006) Robert "Top Gun" Hight became the first Funny Car driver in more than a full season to win from the No. 1 qualifying position, beating Mike Ashley in the final to win the 21st annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at Billy Meyer's Texas Motorplex.
In winning his second consecutive race in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Hight moved to within 56 points of teammate, boss and father-in law John Force and to within 93 points of pacesetting Ron Capps with just four races remaining.
The 2005 winner of the Automobile Club of Southern California's Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year, Hight beat Del Worsham, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon and first time finalist Mike Ashley to earn his fifth career championship.
Hight's victory provided a measure of solace for Force, who lost in the first round for the second straight race. Fortunately for Force, Capps was beaten a round later, making it impossible for him to extend his advantage to more than the current 37 points.
"When you have a crew chief like Jimmy Prock beating on your hood and he tells you it's time to stage, it gives you a lot of confidence as a driver knowing there is a team like that and crew chief like that, that's given you the best race car on the property. You know you have a good shot at winning. It is up to you to go up there and do your job."
Hight Joins Battle For Funny Car Championship
Ennis, TX (Sept. 25, 2006) Robert "Top Gun" Hight became the first Funny Car driver in more than a full season to win from the No. 1 qualifying position, beating Mike Ashley in the final to win the 21st annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals at Billy Meyer's Texas Motorplex.
In winning his second consecutive race in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Hight moved to within 56 points of teammate, boss and father-in law John Force and to within 93 points of pacesetting Ron Capps with just four races remaining.
The 2005 winner of the Automobile Club of Southern California's Road to the Future Award as the NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year, Hight beat Del Worsham, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon and first time finalist Mike Ashley to earn his fifth career championship.
Hight's victory provided a measure of solace for Force, who lost in the first round for the second straight race. Fortunately for Force, Capps was beaten a round later, making it impossible for him to extend his advantage to more than the current 37 points.
"When you have a crew chief like Jimmy Prock beating on your hood and he tells you it's time to stage, it gives you a lot of confidence as a driver knowing there is a team like that and crew chief like that, that's given you the best race car on the property. You know you have a good shot at winning. It is up to you to go up there and do your job."
