Robert Hight is hoping to get the Auto Club Ford Mustang to the winner’s circle for the third time. Ironically if Hight is successful it would be his first personal trip to the winner’s circle as the driver of the big blue Mustang. In 2002 and 2004 veteran driver Gary Densham took a Jimmy Prock tuned Mustang to the win. Those are the two most recent wins by John Force Racing at the famed East Coast track.
Hight already has three wins in 2011 including a victory at the most recent NHRA Full Throttle event in Topeka, Kansas. The 2009 Funny car champion was successful in defending his title, a first for the former crewman turned driver.
“Winning Topeka was big for the Auto Club Mustang team. We had been struggling for a couple of races but we got back on track. I am hoping that momentum carries through to Englishtown,” said Hight.
The win in Topeka was the 200th Funny Car win for John Force Racing. Hight’s Auto Club Mustang outran teammate Mike Neff and the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang in the final. It was Neff’s 3rd final in a row.
“It was great to get the 200th Funny Car win for John Force Racing. John Force has over half of those wins but getting the 200th was really special. This is a dream job for me. I thought my first job with JFR was my dream job just getting to drive the truck and work on John’s Mustang,” said the 2009 Funny Car champion.
In the past four years Hight has not advanced beyond the second round. In two years friend Del Worsham has been the driver to end Hight’s racing day. He does not have to worry about that in 2011 since Worsham has moved to the Top Fuel ranks. For Hight getting a win at Englishtown would be a special moment.
“Losing to Del and John Force did not make not getting to the winner’s circle any easier. This is a race like the Gatornationals that any pro wants to have a Wally from. This is one of the special races that you want to get four wins on Sunday. I hope that we can keep our Auto Clun Mustang on a roll.”
JFR history @ OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK:
Wins – 7, four by John Force for Castrol GTX (1993, 1996, 1998, 1999); one by Tony Pedregon for Castrol SYNTEC (2001); two by Gary Densham for the Auto Club of Southern California (2002, 2004).
Last year – All three JFR Fords were gone after round two as both Ashley Force Hood and John Force were taken out by Bob Tasca III and Robert Hight was ousted by close friend Del Worsham.
Notable #1 – Robert Hight set the 1,000 foot record at Raceway Park last year when he was clocked in 4.025 seconds in the Auto Club Ford Mustang; John Force set the speed record at 313.73 mph in the Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang.
Notable #2 – John Force has gone longer without a victory in the SuperNationals than he has in any other event in the Full Throttle Series. He last won at Raceway Park on May 23, 1999, beating Cruz Pedregon in the final round. He is winless in his last 11 starts at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Notable #3 – When John Force was struggling to establish himself in professional racing, the late Vinnie Napp was one of the first track operators outside of California to see his potential and pay him to participate in “match race” events.
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