Robert Hight was the toast of Pomona last November as he drove the Auto Club Ford Mustang to the championship and celebrated here near his home, clinching the 2009 title Saturday night. This time, his goal of back-to-back championships is long gone.
 
But he said nevertheless that "Auto Club Raceway is almost a magical place. There is so much history at this track, and we have seen or been a part of that history. When you roll through the gates you just get excited. There are more family and friends around and you have to focus on the race. You see a lot of legends just walking through the pits and to be out on the track racing it is pretty amazing."
 
Friday night he and Jimmy Prock regained some of their strength, registering a 4.080-second elapsed time that for a few minutes was the quickest in the class this weekend.

Robert Hight was the toast of Pomona last November as he drove the Auto Club Ford Mustang to the championship and celebrated here near his home, clinching the 2009 title Saturday night. This time, his goal of back-to-back championships is long gone.
 
But he said nevertheless that "Auto Club Raceway is almost a magical place. There is so much history at this track, and we have seen or been a part of that history. When you roll through the gates you just get excited. There are more family and friends around and you have to focus on the race. You see a lot of legends just walking through the pits and to be out on the track racing it is pretty amazing."
 
Friday night during qualifying at the Auto Club NHRA Finals, he and Jimmy Prock regained some of their strength, registering a 4.080-second elapsed time that for a few minutes was the quickest in the class this weekend.
 
Teammate and sister-in-law Ashley Force Hood came along and took the honor from him. But Hight said he was thrilled with his performance.
 
Besides, he has a special task this weekend -- helping father-in-law and boss John Force earn his 15th title.  
 
"Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win another championship for Auto Club and John Force Racing. With one race left we aren't going to get our second championship, but we can have a huge impact of getting John his 15th championship and that is still a championship for Auto Club as well as Castrol, Ford Racing. Mac Tools and BrandSource," Hight, a four-time 2010 winner, said.
 
This year, Hight set a number of personal records, among them  winning three straight races, advancing to four consecutive finals, and making the list for the class' all-time No. 1 qualifier. He also led the standings briefly in the middle of the season.

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