Robert Hight closed in his first Funny Car season championship,
racing to his third victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA Las
Vegas Nationals.
Hight beat second-place teammate Ashley Force Hood in the
first round of eliminations, then pulled out a close final round
victory over Jack Beckman to take a 105-point lead in the
standings.
"It's amazing what a win can do and get that confidence
back," said Hight, who powered his Ford Mustang to a performance of
4.125 seconds at 304.46 to edge Beckman's Dodge Charger (4.154 at
303.16).
"That was a close race in the final. All the runs this
weekend the car was on its performance. It really gives you a lot
of confidence as a driver. It's all about confidence. The
championship isn't over yet, but we're really close."
Spencer Massey, Larry Morgan and Andrew Hines also won in the
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway. The race was the fifth of six events in the
Countdown to 1, NHRA's championship playoffs.
NHRA rookie of the year nominee Spencer Massey earned his
second victory of the season, beating team owner Don "The Snake"
Prudomme's former driver, Larry Dixon, in the final. With the
runner-up finish, Dixon trails series leader Tony Schumacher by one
point. Veteran driver Cory McClenathan, who beat Schumacher in the
second round, is in third in the title hunt, 48 points back.
Morgan had his first win since 2002 and the 10th of his
career in Pro Stock, outrunning first-time finalist Rickie Jones in
the final round.
Morgan posted a 6.720 at 205.69 in his Dodge Stratus to hold
off Jones' Stratus, which trailed with a 6.794 at 203.16. Series
leader Mike Edwards lost in the second round. He leads second place
Greg Anderson by 139 points. Edwards needs only to qualify for the
season finale to clinch the title.
Hines took his third win of the season in Pro Stock
Motorcycle when series leader Hector Arana fouled at the start in
the final round. With the runner-up finish, Arana increased his
series lead to 54 over defending champ Eddie Krawiec.
The season will end Nov. 12-15 at the Auto Club NHRA Finals
in Pomona, Calif.
