Some thought Robert Hight might not even compete at the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals near Dallas this weekend because of the fiery crash that sent Hight to the hospital after his final-round win in St. Louis Sept. 23.

Hight underwent surgery Sept. 26 for a left clavicle open reduction and internal fixation. He was cleared to compete in all racing activities effective Oct. 4.

“I just remember a couple of things, not getting to celebrate a win in St. Louis, that was a bummer,” Hight said. “You’re in the hospital and your team is already back at the trailer trying to figure how they are going to get all this fixed and on to the next race. I remember laying there thinking, collarbone, and they said eight weeks. I’m thinking I have the points lead and these opportunities don’t just come around.

I got back to California and Tom McKernan, the head guy from Auto Club, said he was taking me to see some doctors. The first doctor said let it heal and the next doctor at USC said you need to fix this, and you will be back in a couple of weeks. I did everything like he said and went back to him (Oct. 4) and he gave me clearance. I built an apparatus to keep the belts off my collarbone. He told me I wouldn’t have got clearance if I didn’t have something like that.”

Hight acknowledged he was nervous about racing in Dallas.

“I’m apprehensive about getting in the car the first couple of runs, you don’t know what to expect, especially a brand-new race car,” Hight said. “We had another car in the trailer Jimmy (Prock, Hight’s crew chief) didn’t really want to run, he wasn’t happy with it. We ran it earlier in the year. So, we had to start with a brand-new car and there’s always gremlins and things that come with a new car. But, this AAA team, they were flawless. They just got better all weekend as we went. I promise you, we’re going to celebrate (Sunday night). We are going to make up for the last one and what’s really cool is that it is two AAA races in a row. You’re winning in front of your sponsors.

Not only did he compete at the FallNationals – he won.

Hight, the reigning NHRA nitro Funny Car world champ, clocked a 3.955-second lap at 325.69 mph in his John Force Racing AAA Texas Chevy Camaro to defeat J.R. Todd’s 3.984 elapsed time at 319.52 mph in his Kalitta Motorsports Toyota.

“That was one of the biggest rounds I ever raced,” Hight said. “J.R. Todd is No. 2 in points, he was 30 behind me going into the final and had I lost I would be 10 ahead, which isn’t much and now we have a 50-point lead. So, it was a 40-point swing and luckily, we get to do it again next week. I’m really not sore. I know the adrenaline is pumping pretty hard. The hardest thing is getting in and out of this fire suit when it is stuck to with all this sweat and you have to contort to get out of it.”

This was Hight’s 45th career NHRA national event win and fourth this season. In addition to St. Louis and Dallas, Hight also reached Victory Lane at Chicago and Sonoma, Calif. This was Hight’s fourth career win at this race.

“Every championship I have won, I have won Dallas and I think we are on our way again,” said Hight, who won his first nitro Funny Car world championship in 2009.

Most importantly, Hight remained atop the points standings. He has a 50-point advantage over second-place Todd.

There are three races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship –  Charlotte, N.C. (Oct. 12-14), Las Vegas (Oct. 25-28) and Pomona, Calif. (Nov. 8-11).

Hight’s victory parade consisted of wins over Jim Campbell, Tim Wilkerson, Bob Tasca III and Todd. Hight has now won five races out eight against Todd.

“This isn’t about me, this is a big team effort and we all respect each other,” High said. “I respect how hard they worked, they didn’t really get a weekend off and we had to build everything. That thing was totally ruined from St. Louis. I didn’t get a weekend off either because I’m on the mend and we just all respect each other. We are working as hard as we can, we are in this together. If I would have screwed up (Sunday), I know they would have forgiven me, but I held my own.”

Hight took a moment to describe how he built the device to protect his collarbone while he was in the cockpit.

“I took a piece that Simpson had built Greg Anderson when he had his heart surgery (in late January 2014),” Hight said. “I took that and measured around my chest and we got a mannequin and we put towels around it and got it to the same size and put the head and neck restraint on it and put this thing from Greg Anderson on it and built ears off it of carbon fiber to go to the head and neck restraint. Now, the belts come over that. There’s room underneath to protect my collarbone. The chutes, that is what I was what I worried about because it slams you forward when you hit the chutes, no issues. I probably couldn’t have raced without that piece. Now, it is comfortable, and I may never take it off. One of the first things I did is thank Greg Anderson for giving me a start.”

Before the six-race Countdown to the Championship, Hight said he made a prediction.

“I said going into the Countdown, I needed to win three races and not have any first-round losses,” Hight said. “So far, so good. We are halfway through, we have two wins and a semifinal (in Reading, Pa.). But, 50 points isn’t a big lead over J.R. Todd. That car is strong and running well. He has been to two finals and we have to keep pushing. Pomona is points and a half, anything can happen. We just have to keep pushing.”