In an emotional tribute to World Champion and friend Scott Kalitta, Robert Hight took the green light as Kalitta’s entire team stood in the lane beside him during the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J.

Hight covered the quarter-mile barely above an idle to pay tribute to Kalitta who just the day before succumbed to injuries sustained during the final qualifying session. Fans stood and clapped as the Auto Club Ford Mustang crossed the finish line twenty-three seconds after taking the Christmas Tree.

“My motor was idling and I could see my car on the Motel 6 Vision and it showed the Kalitta team and family. That really chokes you up. Then they showed the stands and everyone clapping. I could see out the sides of my Mustang at all the people clapping. The whole time down the race track it was a twenty three second run I couldn’t even tell my motor was running it was so quiet,” said Hight.

In an emotional tribute to World Champion and friend Scott Kalitta, Robert Hight took the green light as Kalitta’s entire team stood in the lane beside him during the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J.

 

Hight covered the quarter-mile barely above an idle to pay tribute to Kalitta who just the day before succumbed to injuries sustained during the final qualifying session. Fans stood and clapped as the Auto Club Ford Mustang crossed the finish line twenty-three seconds after taking the Christmas Tree.

“My motor was idling and I could see my car on the Motel 6 Vision and it showed the Kalitta team and family. That really chokes you up. Then they showed the stands and everyone clapping. I could see out the sides of my Mustang at all the people clapping. The whole time down the race track it was a twenty three second run I couldn’t even tell my motor was running it was so quiet,” said Hight.

The decision to sacrifice a very valuable opportunity to gather much needed information was 100% Hight’s. He discussed the tribute with team owner John Force and his crew chief Jimmy Prock who agreed with the young driver that his suggestion was a fitting tribute.

“I thought it would be nice to do in memory of Scott. What did I have to prove? I knew I was going to the second round. It is not the way you want to win a round. How do you try and cut a light in that situation? How do you consciously really drive it down the racetrack when you have other things on your mind? Why not do something as a tribute to him and get ready for the next round? At a time like that reaction time, ET, and lane choice don’t mean anything,” confessed Hight.

Force added,” I was very proud of him. I see that they care (about) more than just running low ET and getting the lane choice or winning a race. When a man makes a statement like that you want to support him. It was good timing because all of Scott’s team was up there. So many people thanked us. That was Robert’s call. It was brilliant because it showed heart. When you work so hard to win and you give it all you’ve got and then you’ve got to take away that edge where you’ve got a chance to test your car. Scott Kalitta is worth way more than anything that we can accomplish here this weekend or any year of our life. We lost a great friend.”