Long before Robert Hight could drive a Funny Car at speeds in excess of 300 mph on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit, he was pretty good with a rifle. In fact, he was good enough to be considered for the 2000 Olympics.
The native of Alturas in Northern California shook off the rust on Tuesday at the Black Point Sports Club in Petaluma as he squared off against club owner Mike Sutsos Jr. in a 30-target clay-shoot competition. Hight fell just short of winning, as Sutsos took the victory 26-19 to claim bragging rights and the specially-designed rod-and-piston trophy.
The event was held in advance of the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway, July 24-26. Hight, who pilots the Auto Club Ford Mustang, is the defending Funny Car champion for John Force Racing. In fact, John Force Racing has won the last three Funny Car crowns in Sonoma (Eric Medlen 2006, John Force 2007, Hight 2008).
“It’s been a while since I shot clays, but this is a really fun getaway from racing, which is so intense. I wish I could’ve taken home that trophy today, but this was a lot of fun,” said Hight.
Hight was a championship trap shooter before he began his racing career, having achieved the coveted grand slam in 1984 — hitting 200 straight targets at 16 yards, 100 straight at 27 yards and 100 straight in doubles. He was good enough to be considered for a berth on the U. S. Olympic team, but decided on a career in motor sports.
“In trap shooting, you have to be perfect, and the same goes for racing,” said Hight. “If I got to do this more, it might help my racing because that hand-eye coordination is so important.”
“Robert is a great shooter. He handles the gun really well and you can tell he has a lot of experience,” said Sutsos, whose father Mike Sutsos Sr. founded the Black Point Sports Club in 1964. “I can honestly say this is the first piston I’ve ever won, and I’m going to treasure this trophy.”
Hight returns to the cockpit this weekend for the grueling West Coast Swing, which includes stops in Denver and Seattle before culminating at Infineon Raceway for the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, July 24-26. Hight, who has 11 career Funny Car wins, sits in 12th place in the point standings entering this weekend’s event in Denver.
“We want to keep it in the family, and keep the John Force Racing wins coming in Sonoma,” said Hight. “Winning the race last year in Sonoma was as good as it gets, and we’re really looking forward to defending our championship.”
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