Robert Hight, driver of the AAA Ford owned by John Force racing, his back in a corner and honor on the line, was pumped full of confidence after posting the fastest lap in first round qualifying for the NHRA U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park Friday night.

Hight's 4.107 second, 305.36 mph, lap was the best of the field and the best of the four John Force cars. Mike Neff was second quickest, Ashley Force Hood fourth and John Force seventh.

“I don't know if it will hold up throughout the whole weekend, but it's definitely going to stay in the top five,” said Hight, looking around the press room and reacquainting himself with faces he hadn't seen in a long time. “The season we've had, that's a good feeling for me.”

Robert Hight, driver of the AAA Ford owned by John Force racing, his back in a corner and honor on the line, was pumped full of confidence after posting the fastest lap in first round qualifying for the NHRA U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park Friday night.

Hight's 4.107 second, 305.36 mph, lap was the best of the field and the best of the four John Force cars. Mike Neff was second quickest, Ashley Force Hood fourth and John Force seventh.

“I don't know if it will hold up throughout the whole weekend, but it's definitely going to stay in the top five,” said Hight, looking around the press room and reacquainting himself with faces he hadn't seen in a long time. “The season we've had, that's a good feeling for me.”

Hight is used to contending for the championship, not running for his life. He's 38 points out of the tenth and final transfer spot. Being the top qualifier after the final session on Sunday is worth a very important eight points.

After one race in John Force's Castrol GTX team, Hight is back with crew chief Jimmy Prock in his own familiar race car.

“I had a great time running with Austin Coil and Bernie Fedderly in Redding. We went a couple rounds, but this car that I'm driving with Jimmy Prock is like, your couch. It just feels right. It's home. When I got in there tonight and they strapped me in, it just felt, that's my car.

“But, this is definitely a big weekend for the Auto Club team. We've dug ourselves a huge hole. What's amazing is we are still within striking distance, two rounds. It's going to be important to out qualify Cruz (Pedregon) and (Matt) Hagan.”

Besides getting back into the car he's struggled with throughout the season, which does bring him a level of comfort, Hight is thinking he might just be really lucky at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

“I sometimes don't believe in luck at certain tracks, but I am starting to,” admitted Hight. “We've been in the final here the last three years and won it twice. I think we could have won it three times. We had a parts breakage in '07.”

Hight knows he has to get to the finals, a win being the best medicine, to challenge for the championship this year and this is the best possible start. 

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