Robert Hight knew headed into this weekend’s NHRA Gatornationals, this race was an important race for him for more than the prestige the event holds. This was the event where the reigning Funny Car series champion pinpointed his early season tailspin began last year.

“This sport is very humbling,” said Hight, who edged out boss/father-in-law John Force for the No. 1 spot with a 4.060. “You can change in a hurry. We just have to work hard, stay doing what we're doing. We're not changing a whole lot; and refining what we have. It is awesome. But, that No. 1 is a target out there, because there are a lot of other Funny Cars that want that on the side of their car next year. We're going to have to do a good job to regain that.”

The good job begins with a confident crew chief and Hight believes he has one with Jimmy Prock.

Robert Hight knew headed into this weekend’s NHRA Gatornationals, this race was an important race for him for more than the prestige the event holds. This was the event where the reigning Funny Car series champion pinpointed his early season tailspin began last year.

“This sport is very humbling,” said Hight, who edged out boss/father-in-law John Force for the No. 1 spot with a 4.060. “You can change in a hurry. We just have to work hard, stay doing what we're doing. We're not changing a whole lot; and refining what we have. It is awesome. But, that No. 1 is a target out there, because there are a lot of other Funny Cars that want that on the side of their car next year. We're going to have to do a good job to regain that.”

The good job begins with a confident crew chief and Hight believes he has one with Jimmy Prock.

“He has always looking at what he can run under these conditions and he goes for the throat,” Hight said. “That is how he races. It's gotten us a lot of number one qualifiers and won me some races. It's a better feeling when he definitely got a handle and we're going down the track more. Even when we were struggling he throws the long ball. We didn't qualify a couple times last year because of it. He definitely has a handle on it and he never takes the conservative approach.”

The early success in Gainesville is a bit of a rebound for Hight, who admittedly struggled some two weekends ago in Phoenix. Friday’s iffy weather provided a challenge to his tuner as well.

“We were hurting it a little bit in Phoenix so he decided to put a brand new fuel pump on it,” Hight explained. “He was even second guessing himself a little when we were having threatening weather and only one run today. But, he stuck with it. As you can see it ran 310. It was a flawless run. If we get some more conditions tomorrow, maybe we can lower that a little but because there are a lot of other cars out there that can do the same; .06 is a great start. It's definitely going to stay in the top four or five. It's pretty cool that John Force racing is one, two, three right now.”

Three races into the season Hight believes it’s pretty cool being referred to as the champion.

“It's awesome because you get to see all the fans for the first time that you haven't seen,” Hight said. “They are always yelling champ. It was pretty funny last weekend. We went up to Bakersfield and people were calling me champ up there. Force would look and say, “ah no, they were talking to you.” I still think they are talking about him because he's won a lot more than me.”