Just two weeks ago Robert Hight had what he considered a dream weekend at the Northwest Nationals near Seattle. Everything went perfectly as he claimed the No. 1 qualifying position at that event, and earned his second win in three races to wrap up the Western Swing.

Now, just a fortnight later, the John Force Racing driver’s dreams just continue to get better and better.

On the first day of qualifying for the 36th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Speedway, Hight wrote his name in the record books by posting a mark of 3.793 at 338.00 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS during the day’s second qualifier.

Hight’s pass was the first 3.7 second run in Funny Car history. He also holds the Funny Car national speed record of 339.87 set recently at Sonoma Raceway.

“I could tell it was running fast and I saw the 3.79 on the scoreboard,” Hight said. “It’s just something you dream about. There are so many things that have to happen and work together for it all to come together. It’s not that easy. This is a big milestone. To be part of a milestone as a driver, this was big for me.

“The whole team is just ecstatic – It’s an awesome feeling. I have to say that I called it today. We had great conditions and it was cool out here, so I figured we had nothing to lose. We’re trying to get three points every time we go out, and we’re in a dog fight with Matt Hagan, so what did we have to lose"?

As it turned out, adding to the drama was the fact that Hight lined up beside rival Hagan in the second session, and the pressure was really on.

“It crossed my mind that we could have side-by-side 3.70s on that run, and I knew that I had to be the best I could possibly be,” Hight said. “I knew I had to leave on him because if he gets there first he’s the first in the 3.70s. It all worked out perfectly – I left first and we got the 3.70. He was right there, though, with a 3.80.”

Now that Hight has been reunited with JFR crew chief Jimmy Prock, things in his pit area have never been better.

“Yeah, we have the band back together, and we’re having a blast,” Hight said. “We’re working together and we’re working really hard. There isn’t a day that goes by that Jimmy and I don’t talk about the race car, and it’s like we were never apart and I hope we never are again. The addition of Chris Cunningham to the team has taken us to new heights. Jimmy now has someone to bounce ideas off of, and the two of them work extremely well together."

Experience has taught Hight that Prock is never satisfied, and he knew just what was going on in his pit even as he gave his press room interview.

“I can guarantee you that Jimmy has already looked at the data and figured out where he could have run better than .79 with a few tweaks here and there. There is no perfect run to Jimmy Prock – he always wants to run quicker and faster.”

Currently qualified second is Matt Hagan in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T with a 3.807 pass at 336.57 and 16-time world champion John Force is third in his PEAK Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet Camaro SS.