NHRA Funny Car point leader Robert Hight headed into the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals with the primary objective of conquering the one facility on the 24-race tour that has been the most hateful to him over his relatively short driving career.

“We've come into Vegas here a lot of times and left with a lot on the table; ran good, qualified, but did bad in first round,” Hight said. “One year we had a great shot and doing the burnout the thing just quit. And, the year Tony won the championship I lost by less than a round. All we had to do was win a round here. This place is tough.”

And the race opened by throwing him a curve with a first round match against his sister-in-law and teammate Ashley Force-Hood. She is currently second to him in the championship point standings.

NHRA Funny Car point leader Robert Hight headed into the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals with the primary objective of conquering the one facility on the 24-race tour that has been the most hateful to him over his relatively short driving career.

“We've come into Vegas here a lot of times and left with a lot on the table; ran good, qualified, but did bad in first round,” Hight said. “One year we had a great shot and doing the burnout the thing just quit. And, the year Tony won the championship I lost by less than a round. All we had to do was win a round here. This place is tough.”

And the race opened by throwing him a curve with a first round match against his sister-in-law and teammate Ashley Force-Hood. She is currently second to him in the championship point standings.

“Drawing Ashley in the first round kinda knocked the sails out of me,” admitted Hight, who also beat John Force, Tim Wilkerson and Jack Beckman in the finals. “They have basically been the best car for over a year. She has had a great race car. They just don't struggle. This is so unlike them.”

Hight credits crew chief Jimmy Prock with the team’s turnaround.

“Jimmy Prock has just done a great job since the Countdown started,” Hight said. “Three wins in five races, that is stout. It has all been on performance. We've not gotten lucky. We have just out-muscled these guys. To have a 105 point lead going into Pomona gives you a lot of confidence but it’s not over.”

Hight leads Force Hood by 105 points and while he may have beaten her today, he refuses to discount their chances to win the championship. He credits her team for getting his on the right track and believes their first round match was pivotal in today’s outcome.

“I really believe that if she had beaten me in first round she would be in here today,” Hight said, addressing the Las Vegas media on Sunday evening. “That is a great race car and they are the reason we are in this Countdown. They fixed us when we were lost.”

What could be his first championship season has caused many sleepless nights for Hight, especially this weekend. Tonight he plans to relax a little more than in the past.

“We're going to have a good time tonight,” he said. “We're here in Vegas. I didn't get hardly any sleep last night. I was just nervous. I hate first rounds.

He especially hates them in Las Vegas.

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