HIGHT CREDITS CREW FOR EARLY SEASON SUCCESS|

Robert Hight won for the second fourth dimension this twelvemonth Mar. 12, defeating Johnny Grey in the final round of the 43rd annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NapaFilters.com.

For Hight and the Car Club Ford Mustang team is was their second consecutive final-round victory over Johnny Gray (Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals in Reading, Pa., in 2011) and HIght'southward 14th win in xvi final rounds. This win was one of the big ones of Hight's career.

"I have won the United states Nationals and I take won both the Pomona races, simply adjacent to Indy this is where y'all want to win. Ron Capps said information technology all-time a few years back, 'Yyou don't want to retire without winning the Gatornationals,'" said Hight a outset-time Gatornationals finalist.

"This is a huge race. The Hall of Fame inductions are before this race so everybody from drag racing past is here for this race. They are out at that place watching and I have a lot of admiration for them. If it wasn't for them, the pioneers, this sport wouldn't be where it is today. I want to show my respect to them."

Two weeks ago Hight defeated teammate Mike Neff in the Funny Car final of the NHRA Arizona Nationals, locking in his position as a member of the countdown Traxxas Shootout to be held during the Mac Tools Usa Nationals. Getting some other win in Florida has Hight motivated for connected success.

"2 is a row is huge. That is a peachy way to kickoff the season and three in a row for John Force Racing. I was really hoping for a tertiary all-Ford Racing concluding with JFR drivers, but it didn't work.

"I don't know exactly what took place with my car. Information technology shook and I had to pedal it. You want to exist perfect and you want the auto to be flawless, only sometimes as a commuter you take to win 1 of those pedaling. This is a historic race and that was an sometime-school pedalfest. That is huge and it gives you a lot of confidence as a driver."

In the last round, two of the strongest and quickest Funny Cars squared off. In the semi-finals both cars had posted low iv.0 elapsed times, simply every bit the sun came out the crew chiefs had to brand some tough decisions. Hight was pleased he was able to contribute to a win after so many people had been supporting him on his road to victory.

"I wasn't expecting that (smoking tires) at all. Jimmy said he was going to back it off because the track was warming upwards. Nosotros were trying to run iv.08 or something. I think he backed information technology off besides much and it shook. You saw Morgan Lucas run 3.74 correct behind u.s.a. and that showed you how good the track was. We probably would accept been better off to leave it like it was and try and run iv.03 or 4.04. It really doesn't matter how you lot get here as long as you get the win light," said Hight.

"You give it a quick wait. You accept to get the car under control and so take a look. You lot don't want to look too early because then that could make y'all late getting back nether ability. You have to know if you demand to stay with information technology or if the other guy is way out there, there is no reason to accident your automobile up. Yous don't want to oil the track and kill it for the dragsters coming up behind you. At one point I got over near the center line and I backed off considering I did not want to cross that center line. I eased dorsum into it again. There is a lot going on in that sub-five-second race.

"Usually the guy that smokes the tires first loses; if you smoke your tires 2d y'all take more than momentum."

Hight credited his team for his dominance in final rounds and was quick to share the accolades. With his 25th career victory, Hight moves into a necktie for seventh (with Del Worsham) on the all-time Funny Automobile win listing.

"The team I am on (is the key). In the final there was a lot of pressure because all the (JFR) teams were behind me. All our teams are continuing back there and they all helped get united states of america ready," said Hight. "They have given you lot the car and you just want to do your best. The Traxxas people were hither and this is good for all sponsors like Castrol, Ford, Mac Tools and BrandSource. There are then many people back at the store you just don't desire to let them down."

Hight has now won multiple events in each of his seven seasons as a professional Funny Car driver, but that kind of success does not make early-round racing whatsoever easier.

John Medlen (2d from left in front of car) joined Robert Hight and the residue of the JFR crew afterwards Hight won Mar. 12, 2012, at Gainesville, Florida. (Photo courtesy JFR)

"It was double the pressure having 2 days of racing. Information technology was like two first rounds. I have asked Don Garlits if get-go rounds every get any easier and he has told me they don't. Basically we had another first round today. I had all dark to call up most that semi-final race with Beckman. Once you get going it is overnice to get that first round win of the day out of the way. We really had 2 beginning rounds this weekend."

Winning the Tire Kingdom Gatornationals at Auto Parts Raceway at Gainesville was Hight's 17th different issue win and 15th unlike race runway.

"It was proficient to get (recently returned JFR crew master) John Medlen back in the winner'south circumvolve in Gainesville. Information technology was v years ago when we had a tragic accident and we lost (Medlen's son) Eric here. Information technology means a lot to get him back in the winner's circumvolve here," Hight concluded.