The semi-final round match between John Force and Robert Hight carried a lot of importance that transcended Hight reaching yet another NHRA U.S. Nationals final round. A Countdown to One championship berth hung in the balance for two drivers - Hight of John Force Racing and defending world champion Cruz Pedregon.

Hight beat Force in a race where the starting line reactions were far from indicative of a match bearing such magnitude. The murmurs of the fix being in, grew so loud, you could almost hear them echoing from the staging lanes into the grandstands.

Hight and Force were both extremely tardy leaving the starting line, .143 to .209, advantage Hight, and at half-track Force shook the tires and lifted. Hight won the semi-final round with a 4.261, his slowest elapsed time of the day.

The semi-final round match between John Force and Robert Hight carried a lot of importance that transcended Hight reaching yet another NHRA U.S. Nationals final round. A Countdown to One championship berth hung in the balance for two drivers - Hight of John Force Racing and defending world champion Cruz Pedregon.

Hight beat Force in a race where the starting line reactions were far from indicative of a match bearing such magnitude. The murmurs of the fix being in, grew so loud, you could almost hear them echoing from the staging lanes into the grandstands.

Hight and Force were both extremely tardy leaving the starting line, .143 to .209, advantage Hight, and at half-track Force shook the tires and lifted. Hight won the semi-final round with a 4.261, his slowest elapsed time of the day.

“We were late because we both went shallow,” explained Force. “His light went to sh*t and so did mine. Because, there was not the deal to go A to B. We couldn't lose either way. Oh, did I want him in, you bet. But, I am still focused on going down that racetrack.”

The NHRA visited Force’s trailer, inspected run logs, and deemed the runs legit.

“We both went up there and the only thing we said to each other was, ‘Okay Robert, let’s don’t screw this up,” Force explained, “and have some red-light [make us] look like we did something stupid. Let’s put them in dead shallow because shallow wins you lane choice. Put them in shallow and let’s go. Robert even told me he hated doing that. 'When I change my routine it screws me up.' We did it and it threw us both off.

“I ain’t ever gonna make the world happy. I know that and I will go down the road and hope my sponsors understand. I’m doing what I do but to have a guy call me a name and a cheat. Like he thinks he knows? In front of cameras and everything … you’ve got no right. That’s court stuff. You can go to court over that stuff.”
 

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