ENNIS, Texas – Robert Hight entered the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship with as much momentum as nearly anyone in the star-studded Funny Car class, winning one race and advancing to the final round of both the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals and Traxxas Nitro Shootout leading into the NHRA’s playoffs.
While things have taken a sudden and unexpected turn in the opposite direction, losing in the first round at each of the first three Countdown stops, Hight still plans on making some noise over the final three events in 2015.
That means a swift turnaround is necessary and Hight has his eyes set on the 30th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Oct. 15-18 at the Texas Motorplex, as being the first step in that direction in his 10,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro.
“Winning the AAA Texas FallNationals would be huge for us,” said Hight, the 2009 Funny Car world champion. “We haven’t started the Countdown the way we planned, but there are three races left and we have had success at all three. There is still a championship on the line and we want to do everything we can to make sure that championship trophy comes back to John Force Racing.”
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Courtney Force (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will once again be televised on ESPN2. It is the fourth of six playoffs races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship and it marks a chance for drivers to make one last push towards a world title.
Hight is currently in 10th place and 221 points behind Del Worsham, which means a second world championship is a longshot. But teammate and 16-time world champion John Force is 150 points behind Worsham, and Hight still has plans to finish the season strong, if only to erase the frustration of the past three races.
He won in Brainerd with an outstanding performance, following it up with another solid showing in Indy, heading into the Countdown in seventh. Hight even qualified No. 1 at the most recent event at Maple Grove Raceway, running a career-best 3.922 in the process. But raceday has been a different story, as Hight fell again in the opening round there.
Still, Hight and his team, led by crew chief Mike Neff, are optimistic heading to the Texas Motorplex.
“Our mindset hasn’t changed all season,” said Hight, who has 35 career wins, including one in 2015. “We had a tough weekend in Reading and everyone was kind of behind the eight ball. You can’t get discouraged by a bad race or a couple bad races. Every race you have to go into the race thinking you have a chance to win and this AAA Texas team definitely thinks that.
“We have had some tough match-ups but we are taking responsibility ourselves and not blaming anyone. This is a strong team and I am looking forward to getting to the Texas Motorplex and having a good weekend. The weather should be good and I am excited to get to the original super track.”
If a championship doesn’t happen, Hight could still play the spoiler role by going on a hot streak over the final three races. Worsham saw his lead shrink to just 16 points over Jack Beckman, who won his seventh race of the year at Maple Grove, also setting a national E.T. record. Hight will also have to contend with reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan, who trails Worsham by 90 points, Tommy Johnson Jr., who is 98 points outside of first, Ron Capps, John Alexis DeJoria, Cruz Pedregon and Tim Wilkerson.
But Hight is thrilled about the annual trip to the Texas Motorplex, a facility he has always held in high regard. With it being a sponsor’s race, it becomes that much more important for Hight, who plans to put on a memorable show for the large fan base in the Dallas area.
“The Motorplex is the first super track,” Hight said. “When [track owner] Billy Meyer built the Motorplex he built it as a performance facility and premier facility for the fans. I think the fans will see some exciting racing when we are there. Billy Meyer was a Funny Car racer and his vision for the Motorplex has led to tracks like Las Vegas, Charlotte and Chicago.
“We owe Billy a lot and you want to do well at the Texas Motorplex because this is a AAA Texas race, but also because we have a lot of fans in Texas and the Dallas area. You see them on the ropes and they are cheering for us all weekend. I love the fans in Texas and it will be a busy weekend but also a weekend where I hope you’ll see this AAA Texas Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car going some rounds.”
In Top Fuel, Antron Brown remained perfect in the Countdown, winning his third straight race and opening up a 104-point lead over reigning world champion Schumacher. Other Top Fuel stars in the Countdown are three-time world champion Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, who moved to third, Doug Kalitta, Richie Crampton, who has four wins in 2015, J.R. Todd, Connolly, 2013 world champion Shawn Langdon and Texas native Steve Torrence.
Erica Enders will look to get a step closer to a second straight Pro Stock world title in Dallas, but will have to deal with the likes of four-time world champion Greg Anderson, who sits 72 points back in second, former champ Allen Johnson, rookie Drew Skillman, who picked up his first career Pro Stock win in St. Louis, Larry Morgan, tough Texan Chris McGaha, who won the most recent race to move into third and 104 points behind Enders, Vincent Nobile, Jason Line, Shane Gray and Jonathan Gray.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, reigning world champion, defending race winner and points leader Hines picked up his second Countdown win at Maple Grove, opening up an 89-point lead over teammate Eddie Krawiec. Hector Arana Jr., who won in St. Louis, is 101 points behind Hines, while others to watch include Jerry Savoie, Matt Smith, Hector Arana, two-time season winner Karen Stoffer, Jim Underdahl, Chip Ellis and Scotty Pollacheck.
The AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Oct. 16, with sessions at 2:45 and 5:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, at 12:45 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call the Texas Motorplex at (800) 668-6775 or visit www.texasmotorplex.com. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
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AAA TEXAS NHRA FALLNATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 30th annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, the 22nd of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and the fourth of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Drivers in four categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Texas Motorplex, Ennis, Texas. The track is located at 7500 W. Highway 287.
COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 500 feet above sea level; Track direction is southwest to northeast.
WHEN: Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 15-18
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY, Oct. 15 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
FRIDAY, Oct. 16 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:45 and 5:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, Oct. 17 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 12:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
SUNDAY, Oct. 18 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Sunday, Oct. 18, ESPN2 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 4 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Oct. 18, ESPN2 will televise three hours of coverage starting at 8 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):
Saturday, Oct. 17, 8 – 8:30 p.m. (ET), AMC 9/Transponder 02C
Sunday, Oct. 18, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9/Transponder 02C
(3710 MHz, vertical; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.
2014 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Courtney Force, Funny Car; Dave Connolly, Pro Stock; Andrew Hines, Pro Stock Motorcycle.
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC, 7; Tony Schumacher, TF, 6; Warren Johnson, PS, 5; Cruz Pedregon, FC, 4; Greg Anderson, PS, 4.
TRACK RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.761 sec. by J.R. Todd, Sept. ’14; 326.71 mph by Doug Kalitta, Sept. ’14
Funny Car – 4.039 sec. and 314.90 mph by Courtney Force, Sept. ’14
Pro Stock – 6.550 sec. and 211.99 mph by Allen Johnson, Sept. ’12
Pro Stock Motorcycle – 6.828 sec. by Hector Arana Jr., Sept. ’11; 197.22 mph by Michael Phillips, Sept. ’11
NATIONAL RECORDS:
Top Fuel – 3.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ‘15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – 3.897 sec. by Jack Beckman, Oct. ‘15, Reading, Pa.; 330.47 mph by Matt Hagan, Sept. ‘15, Madison, Ill.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, May ‘14, Englishtown, N.J.
PS Motorcycle – 6.728 sec. by Andrew Hines, Oct. ’12, Reading, Pa.; 199.88 mph by Hector Arana Jr., March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 668-6775. Tickets also are available at www.texasmotorplex.com.
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NHRA MELLO YELLO COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the third of six playoff races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, and the 21st of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.
Top Fuel: 1. Antron Brown, 2,432; 2. Tony Schumacher, 2,338; 3. Brittany Force, 2,238; 4. Larry Dixon, 2,234; 5. Richie Crampton, 2,187; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,181; 7. Shawn Langdon, 2,177; 8. Doug Kalitta, 2,173; 9. Steve Torrence, 2,160; 10. Dave Connolly, 2,158.
Funny Car: 1. Del Worsham, 2,361; 2. Jack Beckman, 2,345; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,271; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,263; 5. Ron Capps, 2,256; 6. John Force, 2,211; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 2,169; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,162; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 2,154; 10. Robert Hight, 2,140.
Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders, 2,385; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,313; 3. Chris McGaha, 2,281; 4. Larry Morgan, 2,240; 5. Allen Johnson, 2,227; 6. Drew Skillman, 2,212; 7. Vincent Nobile, 2,187; 8. Jason Line, 2,179; 9. Shane Gray, 2,149; 10. Jonathan Gray, 2,119.
Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 2,378; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 2,289; 3. Hector Arana Jr, 2,277; 4. Jerry Savoie, 2,259; 5. Matt Smith, 2,244; 6. Chip Ellis, 2,223; 7. Karen Stoffer, 2,199; 8. Hector Arana, 2,167; 9. Jim Underdahl, 2,126; 10. Scotty Pollacheck, 2,076.
