On his last run qualifying run Robert Hight took a page from John Force’s playbook and drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to the top of the field securing his first No.1 qualifying spot as well as the Full Throttle Award –presented to the team that was most consistent during the two days of qualifying- in the process.

“To go down the track here all four runs is unbelievable. I knew that last run as going to be a good run,” said the former Funny Car points leader. “It was really revving at the finish line. That is the best run of the year for us so far this year. The motor seemed happy all the way to the finish line.”

This was Hight’s fourth No. 1 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it was an impressive rebound for the championship caliber team coming on the heels of a DNQ two weeks ago in Houston. Hight and crew chief Jimmy Prock spent a full day testing a new clutch set-up and they saw the reward for their hard work today in the desert.

On his last run qualifying run Robert Hight took a page from John Force’s playbook and drove his Auto Club Ford Mustang to the top of the field securing his first No.1 qualifying spot as well as the Full Throttle Award –presented to the team that was most consistent during the two days of qualifying- in the process.

“To go down the track here all four runs is unbelievable. I knew that last run as going to be a good run,” said the former Funny Car points leader. “It was really revving at the finish line. That is the best run of the year for us so far this year. The motor seemed happy all the way to the finish line.”

This was Hight’s fourth No. 1 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and it was an impressive rebound for the championship caliber team coming on the heels of a DNQ two weeks ago in Houston. Hight and crew chief Jimmy Prock spent a full day testing a new clutch set-up and they saw the reward for their hard work today in the desert.

“We took a big step backwards after Houston and we just regrouped. We don’t need a clutch in here to run mid 4.60s, said the track record holder. “With the heavier cars we just aren’t as quick but we are a lot safer and that is the most important thing.”

While Hight was celebrating team leader John Force struggled and failed to make the sixteen car field. This was the first time in Force’s thirty year history that he DNQed at the same event two years in a row.

“You have to perform. You get the same shots as everybody else and we didn’t do it. We didn’t deliver. Thank God I have three other Ford Mustangs.”

Even though Force was disappointed with the performance of his Castrol GTX High Mileage team he knew that the future looked bright for his young driver including his daughter Brittany Force who was making her rookie debut behind the wheel of the BrandSource Top Alcohol Dragster.

“My daughter Brittany is driving for BrandSource in Jerry Darien’s car and she outran me this weekend. Here I was worried about this little girl and she made the show,” said the proud father.

“Ashley is driving great for Castrol. Robert (driving for Auto Club) and Old Spice is with Mike Neff and they are both looking good. They are in the show,” said the 14-time champion. “I’ve got no complaints we’ll take our team, take out whippin’ and we’ll get ready to race tomorrow. That is what they pay us for and that is what we are going to do. John Force is out I’ll join the fans in the stands and we’ll have a great Sunday tomorrow.”

Force was the first Funny Car competitor to fall victim to the new professional qualifying format. His run on Friday of 4.971 seconds which was the 15th quickest of the day would have been quick enough to make the field but only the twelve quickest passes on the first day of qualifying carry over to Saturday. He was unable to duplicate that effort today.