NHRA Funny Car racer Robert Hight acknowledged that he was concentrating less on what tune-up was in his Chevy Camaro on Friday at Bristol Dragway and more about which sponsor’s hat and shirt he was wearing and how he would weave that company’s name into his interviews.

Like almost every other nitro racer in the Camping World Drag Racing Series this weekend, the three-time champion from John Force Racing was trying to slog his way through the start of a unique twin bill that combined qualifying for the regularly scheduled Thunder Valley Nationals with the first round of eliminations for Sunday’s/Monday’s rain-plagued New England Nationals at Epping, N.H.

Friday’s opening session was dedicated solely to qualifying for the Bristol race. The second Bristol-race qualifying session included pairings for Round 1 of eliminations from the postponed event at Epping. Hight used a 3.938-second elapsed time at 321.35 mph to defeat Alexis DeJoria in the Epping portion of the session for the provisional No. 1 starting spot.

Two more sessions – which will fold in yet another element, the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race – are set for Saturday. That will determine not only an Epping-race winner but also will establish the final order for Sunday’s eliminations for the Bristol meeting.

The potential to win two “Wally” trophies at the same event isn’t unprecedented. In October 2012, the rain-interrupted race at Reading, Pa., finished with the Pro Stock Motorcycle final round at Las Vegas. Then in September 2014, the Carolina Nationals at Charlotte shifted to Texas Motorplex, near Dallas. In that instance, four pairs of Pro Stock drivers and all of the bike class needed to complete their first-round runs, and three rounds of racing were left for Top Fuel and Funny Car. But this is the first time, at least in modern history, that two events are running from scratch at the same time.

“This is all new for all of us,” Hight, still competing with AAA livery to make up for the company’s lack of exposure last weekend, said.

But clearly, it wasn’t all that daunting for Hight, who’ll face Bob Tasca III in the second Epping round and third overall Bristol qualifying session Saturday. Tasca knocked out Ron Capps on a holeshot (3.972 seconds to 3.962).

“It’s a different mindset,” Hight said. “You’ve got to be focused this weekend more than we’ve ever had to be before. You’ve got to cut a light and be ready and still try to shallow stage and put up the best E.T. you can.” But he said his mindset “really doesn’t change.”

However, he conceded that with a “normal qualifying run, your reaction time doesn’t matter,” although he said it’s the perfect opportunity to practice cutting a strong light because “sitting in the lounge and beating on the practice tree isn’t real-world.”

Hight said, “I still have to stay in my lane. I’ve got to get my car to the other end. And I was also focusing on [the possibility of] pedaling. Normally in qualifying, you’re not thinking of that, either.” The key, he said, was being able to react to the tree and react to his what his car might be doing.

Traditionally, eliminations don’t take place under the Friday night lights – or under any lights. But Hight said that was part of the thrill of this situation: “It’s also exciting to race at night. I love it. There’s not a better setting in all of motorsports than Thunder Valley here in the evening as the sun’s going down. It’s beautiful.

"Fans got their money’s worth,” Hight added.

 Hight will continue to race with the AAA scheme Saturday but will switch to the Cornwell Tools theme for Bristol eliminations Sunday. He thanked Cornwell executives for permitting AAA to get its money’s worth after last weekend’s disappointment.

“They’re both great sponsors. They’re both great companies,” he said. “I’m lucky to have a sponsor. We want to do our best for them.” He began the season with four races funded by Flav-R-Pac and delivered two victories. He said he’s hoping to give each sponsor a triumph this weekend.

In Saturday’s early session, Round 2 of the Epping event also will see No. 1 qualifier Chad Green run out a bye, Matt Hagan square off against J.R. Todd, and John Force face Alex Laughlin.