Robert Hight knows what to expect when he pulls alongside fourteen-time NHRA World Champion John Force or decorated Funny Car driver Ron Capps.

But Mike Sutsos Jr., that challenge might require some studying.

That’s because Sutsos doesn’t drive a nitro-burning Funny Car. In fact, he doesn’t even drag race on the NHRA Full Throttle tour.

Robert Hight knows what to expect when he pulls alongside fourteen-time NHRA World Champion John Force or decorated Funny Car driver Ron Capps.

But Mike Sutsos Jr., that challenge might require some studying.

That’s because Sutsos doesn’t drive a nitro-burning Funny Car. In fact, he doesn’t even drag race on the NHRA Full Throttle tour.

The Sonoma Valley resident is the owner of the Black Point Sports Club and an accomplished marksman. He will square off against Hight in a 25-target clay-shoot competition on Tuesday, July 7, at 10:30 a.m. PT., and the winner will receive a specially-designed trophy.

"The last time I shot was for Full Throttle TV during the Phoenix NHRA race,” Hight said. “I'm looking forward to shooting. It is something I don't get to do much of anymore. It is something I used to live for, which now I live to race. I'm excited about it. I don't have high expectations to do well since it has been so long since I've shot. I'm just going to go out there and have some fun with the media and folks from Infineon Raceway."

Hight will provide more competition than one might expect considering he was a championship trap shooter before he began his racing career, having achieved the coveted grand slam in 1984 at age 15 — 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 motorsports.

"The thing I like about getting out on the range and shooting even if I am a little rusty is you can't get out there, get frustrated and let that overcome you,” Hight explained. “That gets in the way of learning what you are doing wrong. You can learn from a miss or a bad race or a bad run. You just have to get better the next time. If you miss a target and you continue to dwell on basically missing a target you are more than likely going to miss the next one. You have to have your mind focused on what you are doing right then when you get that next target or next race. You have to learn from a mistake and move on. Learn from a miss. Learn from a bad run and move on is how I approach it."
 
 

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