BUSY SCHEDULE PERFECT FOR RED-HOT FUNNY CAR DRIVER ROBERT HIGHT ENTERING NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS AT HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. — When things are going well, like they currently are for Robert Hight, drivers do not ever want a break in the schedule.

Luckily for the Funny Car points leader, his remarkable hot streak is happening just as the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule heats up. That is music to Hight’s ears and he enters this weekend’s 26th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka on a three-race winning streak. The race, the eighth of 24 during the 2014 season, is also the second of three straight race weekends.

“Racing back-to-back actually makes it easier to stay focused,” Hight said. “You are always around the car. When you are away from the car or not racing every weekend is when you can lose focus. The key with this Auto Club team is we all work together. (Crew chief Mike) Neff has everyone comfortable in what they are supposed to do and I am very confident right now as a driver. I want to keep this streak going for as long as possible.”

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Johnny Gray (Funny Car) and Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. For the first time since 2006, the race moves back to Memorial Day weekend, one of the most celebrated weekends for motorsports each year.

As brilliant as Hight has been to start 2014, it has only made him hungrier to keep adding to a thoroughly incredible stretch in his 8,000-horsepower Auto Club Ford Mustang. Since a second-round loss to start the year, Hight has been to the final round at every event since, taking a six-race final round streak to Heartland Park Topeka.

He has won four of those, including the most recent event in Atlanta, beating teammate Courtney Force in the final and denying her the chance to record the landmark 100th win for female NHRA drivers. Despite a torrid pace that has grabbed everyone’s attention, Hight is eager to push forward.

“We have a lot of momentum and we want to make some history,” said Hight, who now has 33 career victories and also claimed his 300th round win in Atlanta. “I’ve won three in a row a few times, but I want to win four or even five in a row. I want to see where we can go. We have to take it one round at a time and that’s what we’re doing, it’s a total team effort.”

Hight’s strong resume at Heartland Park Topeka also gives him a great chance to add to his scorching start. He won at the track in 2010 and 2011, and continues to be blown away by the efforts from his team, marveling at the unique talents Neff brings to the table.

“Mike has a calming effect on me and you have a lot of confidence as driver with him out in front of you,” Hight said. “He helps me and I think it’s because he was a driver, he knows what I’m facing, the pressure, and he just takes that pressure away from me. Right now, we’re clicking.”

Hight also knows things can change quickly in a loaded Funny Car field. His hot start has certainly put a bulls-eye on his back and a host of championship drivers will be eager to end his dominance at the top. That includes teammate John Force, the reigning and 16-time world champ in Funny Car, who has an NHRA-best nine wins in Topeka. Other top Funny Cars racing at Topeka include four-time event winners Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps, Jack Beckman, Tommy Johnson Jr., Alexis DeJoria, Matt Hagan, Del Worsham, Tim Wilkerson and Bob Tasca III.

At the same time, don’t expect Hight to head into the Kansas Nationals underprepared. Instead, Hight might be as zeroed in as he has ever been in his career.

“We have to stay focused,” Hight said. “It gets harder the more you win. You get more texts and calls from people. There is more media. It is all worth it because we want to win every race. It can just distract you if you don’t focus on what is getting you the wins, which is working together with the team.”

In Top Fuel, 2006 NHRA Kansas Nationals winner Doug Kalitta is the points leader and has posted four final round appearances in 2014. Antron Brown, who has two wins this season and continues to get back on track following a scary crash in Atlanta, is still searching for his first win in Topeka, while other Top Fuel standouts include defending world champ Langdon, who knocked off Brown’s Don Schumacher Racing teammate Tony Schumacher a year ago en route to the world championship, Spencer Massey, who is the most recent winner in Atlanta, Steve Torrence, defending Auto Club of Southern California Road the Future Award winner Brittany Force and J.R. Todd.

A third Pro Stock victory for defending event winner Coughlin won’t be easy against a loaded field of the 200 mph factory hot rods. Coughlin’s teammate Allen Johnson also has two career wins at the Kansas Nationals and both will be trying to get their Dodge Darts to victory lane for a third time. Las Vegas winner and K&N Horsepower Challenge winner Erica Enders-Stevens leads the Pro Stock points and is looking for an eighth career victory and first at the Kansas Nationals. Jason Line, Vincent Nobile, Atlanta runner-up Greg Anders, V Gaines, Shane Gray and Dave Connolly and Chris McGaha also figure to be major factors.

All eyes at Heartland Park Topeka will also be on the likes of Enders-Stevens in Pro Stock, DeJoria and Courtney Force in Funny Car, and Leah Pritchett and Brittany Force in Top Fuel as the landmark 100th win by a female will be within reach. Female competitors currently have 99 NHRA victories, putting the total just one away from the magical mark.

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 enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

Mello Yello Series qualifying begins Friday, May 23, with sessions at 4:30 and 7 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, May 24, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 25.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, log on to www.NHRATIX.com or call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Children 12 and younger are free. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 26th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, the eighth of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Heartland Park Topeka. From Kansas City, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) to the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track. From Wichita, take the Kansas Turnpike (I-335) to the Topeka Boulevard exit and travel south to the track.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, May 23-25

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, May 23 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 4:30 and 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, May 24 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, May 25 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, May 24, ESPN2HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, May 25, ESPN2HD will televise three hours of elimination coverage starting at 10 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Friday, May 23, 10:30 – 11 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 07C

Saturday, May 24, 8:30 – 9 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 07C

Sunday, May 25, 7:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 9 / Transponder 07C

(3840 MHz, horizontal; 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.

2013 EVENT WINNERS: Shawn Langdon, Top Fuel; Johnny Gray, Funny Car; Jeg Coughlin, Pro Stock

MOST VICTORIES: John Force, 9, FC; Scott Kalitta, 6, TF; Warren Johnson, 5, PS, Cruz Pedregon, 4, FC; Greg Anderson, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.745 seconds by Morgan Lucas, May ’12; 329.10 mph by Spencer Massey, May ’12.

Funny Car – 4.043 seconds by John Force, May ’13; 315.56 mph by Pedregon, May ’12.

Pro Stock – 6.566 seconds by Jason Line, May ’12; 211.30 mph by Greg Anderson, May ’12.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.18 mph by Spencer Massey, April ’12, Charlotte, N.C.

Funny Car – 3.965 sec. by John Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.; 324.12 mph by J. Force, Feb. ’14, Pomona, Calif.

Pro Stock – 6.471 sec. by Mike Edwards, April ‘13, Charlotte, N.C.; 214.69 mph by Erica Enders-Stevens, March. ’14, Gainesville, Fla.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRATIX.com.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES POINTS STANDINGS

COMMERCE, Ga. — Point standings (top 10) following the seventh of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Doug Kalitta, 649; 2. Antron Brown, 642; 3. Steve Torrence, 503; 4. Shawn Langdon, 461; 5. Spencer Massey, 454; 6. Khalid alBalooshi, 413; 7. Tony Schumacher, 407; 8. Brittany Force, 336; 9. (tie) Richie Crampton, 257; J.R. Todd, 257.

Funny Car: 1. Robert Hight, 730; 2. John Force, 524; 3. Alexis DeJoria, 472; 4. Ron Capps, 430; 5. Del Worsham, 400; 6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 380; 7. (tie) Jack Beckman, 369; Courtney Force, 369; 9. Matt Hagan, 368; 10. Tim Wilkerson, 329.

Pro Stock: 1. Erica Enders-Stevens, 624; 2. Jason Line, 514; 3. Allen Johnson, 509; 4. Shane Gray, 468; 5. Jeg Coughlin, 457; 6. Vincent Nobile, 448; 7. Dave Connolly, 406; 8. V. Gaines, 372; 9. Chris McGaha, 344; 10. Jimmy Alund, 282.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Andrew Hines, 286; 2. Eddie Krawiec, 276; 3. John Hall, 230; 4. Scotty Pollacheck, 220; 5. Hector Arana Jr., 182; 6. Michael Ray, 181; 7. Steve Johnson, 155; 8. Hector Arana, 135; 9. Matt Smith, 130; 10. (tie) Adam Arana, 116. Chaz Kennedy, 116.