Robert Hight looks toward Off Ron Capps, Matt Hagan to Claim Funny Car Title at Auto Club NHRA Finals

Shirley Beal
2022 NHRA Auto Club Finals logo (678)

POMONA, CA – November 10, 2022 – (Motor Sporting activities NewsWire) – An impressive period has put Amusing Car’s Robert Hight on the verge of a fourth environment championship in the NHRA Camping Earth Drag Racing Series. But with two heavyweight contenders looming, Hight knows he needs to take treatment of small business a person much more time at this weekend at the 57th annual Vehicle Club NHRA Finals at famous Automobile Club Raceway at Pomona to protected the title.

In what has been the ideal time of his occupation to this place, Hight has racked up eight wins, 12 finals appearances and six No. 1 qualifiers in a loaded Funny Car class, a nod to what the veteran and his workforce have accomplished in their 11,000-horsepower Automobile Club Chevrolet Camaro SS.

In spite of the remarkable results, defending earth champ Ron Capps and Matt Hagan, who has a few environment titles, are however lurking. Capps is 61 factors back again and Hagan, who gained the most latest race in Las Vegas, is just 63 details powering, that means Hight’s quest for a different title very likely demands yet another terrific weekend in Pomona.

“I simply cannot wait around to get it likely,” Hight stated. “The fact is, we’re centered and we’re likely to consider to get our ninth win. I’m battling with two great motorists, and we have battled all time extensive. I realized it was heading to be this way and it is been terrific racing all season very long. But we’ve received to aim and make eight great runs. If we do that and get our ninth earn, we’re the champs and we’ll get to rejoice, and which is how I want it to perform out.”

Steve Torrence (Top rated Gasoline), Bob Tasca III (Humorous Automobile), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Inventory Bike) received past year’s race, while Torrence, Capps (Humorous Auto), Anderson and Smith all claimed entire world titles in Pomona as very well. The race will be broadcast on Fox Sports activities 1 (FS1), like eliminations at 4 p.m. on Sunday, and lots is on the line to near out the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

The finale is also details-and-a-50 %, indicating each Capps and Hagan could get to inside two rounds of Hight if they near the hole to much less than 60 points during qualifying. That places an onus on each individual run this weekend, but those people are times in which Capps, Hagan and Hight – who have combined for six of the very last 8 globe titles in the class – have thrived throughout their careers.

“All three of us, we have been in the trenches, and we comprehend how almost everything has to be best on these autos to make these terrific runs,” Capps stated. “You’re speaking three autos that adore to throw down, and Pomona is epic and it’s historic. If we can get it less than two rounds heading into eliminations, you in no way know what can happen in Pomona. There’s practically nothing greater than waking up Sunday early morning in Pomona and possessing a shot at a planet championship. It is a great feeling.”

Hagan stayed in contention in Las Vegas in his 11,000-horsepower Dodge Ability Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat, coming as a result of in what he referred to as a should-win predicament. The identical may keep genuine in Pomona, in which the Amusing Car standout for Tony Stewart Racing will check out to grab a fifth victory this time. He’s dueled it out with Hight thoroughly this year and will intention for a sizzling end to continue to be alive in the title hunt.

In his 1st yr as a team owner, Capps has been regular all period, buying up five victories in his 11,000-horsepower NAPA Automobile Components Toyota GR Supra. Which is designed it now a profitable time for the longtime standout, but a Pomona victory and a earth championship – which would make him the 1st back again-to-again Funny Vehicle champ in 20 a long time – would make it even sweeter.

“It’s been a whirlwind and it’s been a nuts yr,” Capps claimed. “Going into this weekend, you could not have asked for a improved shot. It is been a aspiration 12 months and I’m living the lifetime I by no means believed I would have as a workforce owner. I’m just joyful to be the place I’m at and just have the likelihood to run with all these terrific vehicles out there.”

A fourth earth championship would also mean a good deal to Hight, who struggled previous year and was identified to switch it about in 2022. The workforce has carried out that and then some, putting with each other dominant stretches in the course of the calendar year. He’s won two times in the playoffs – previously location a vocation-ideal for wins in a single period – but Hight’s sole purpose this weekend continues to be perfection.

“We know items can turn in a hurry, but we’re definitely concentrated on obtaining each and every qualifying point we can,” Hight mentioned. “We’re not overlooking anything. You’ve acquired to make 4 excellent qualifying runs and then do that 4 far more periods on raceday. These are 3 of the very best autos in the country and we’re all likely to be managing brief. We’re going to have to make ideal operates. It is ridiculous how shut all of this is.”

Top Fuel’s Brittany Drive takes a trim 7-place direct into Pomona in excess of Justin Ashley, searching to select up her second environment title. Mike Salinas, Antron Brown and four-time defending globe champ Steve Torrence remain in the thick of the title hunt in what ought to be a can’t-miss weekend in the course.

Professional Stock’s Erica Enders has currently clinched her fifth entire world championship, executing so in Las Vegas en route to her 10th victory of the season as effectively. She’ll look to end off just one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory with her 2nd earn in Pomona this calendar year in opposition to Greg Anderson, Troy Coughlin Jr., Aaron Stanfield and Kyle Koretsky.

Matt Smith closed out his fifth world title with a Pomona triumph past 12 months, a thing he would really like to replicate as the Professional Inventory Motorcycle details chief inches toward a sixth planet title. He leads Joey Gladstone by 104 factors coming into the weekend and will also have to offer with Jerry Savoie, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Eddie Krawiec.

The Automobile Club NHRA Finals also will function thrilling competitiveness in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Sequence, which features some of the sport’s top motorists, and a exclusive Jr. Dragster Shootout. Soon after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday, the “Walking Tall” P.T. Cruiser Wheelstander exhibition that includes “Nitro Mike” will place on a demonstrate to near out the working day. Followers can also attend Nitro Faculty on Saturday in Alexis DeJoria’s Funny Motor vehicle pits to discover additional about how the cars and trucks function and arrive at their thrilling speeds, while an autograph session will take position on Friday and Saturday at both of those the Dodge and Toyota shows with sponsored drivers.

Race supporters at Vehicle Club Raceway at Pomona can appreciate the exclusive pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate just about every of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and consists of the admirer preferred SealMaster Track Walk. The closing just cannot-pass up encounter of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday right after racing concludes, wherever admirers are invited to congratulate the Vehicle Club NHRA Finals occasion winners and planet champions.

As generally, followers also get an distinctive pit pass to the most impressive and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the world in Pomona. This distinctive option gives supporters a exceptional chance to see groups in action and company their very hot rods amongst rounds, get autographs from their favored NHRA motorists, and much more. Followers can also stop by NHRA’s well known Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Halfway, the place sponsors and race suppliers create an enjoyable environment that consists of interactive shows, simulated competitions, products, food, and exciting for the overall household. The new Pep Boys midway screen includes tire alter worries, oil modify issues, a slot car monitor, and a great deal additional, introducing even extra exhilaration to the midway.

NHRA Camping Environment Drag Racing Collection qualifying will function two rounds at 12:00 and 3:15 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 11, and the remaining two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Closing eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 13. Tv protection involves qualifying motion on FS1 at 2:00 p.m. ET. on Sunday, main into eliminations at 4:00 p.m. ET.

To buy tickets to the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Vehicle Club Raceway at Pomona, phone 800-884-NHRA (6472) or check out www.nhra.com/tickets. Children 12 and below are admitted cost-free in common admissions spots with a paid out adult. For additional data about NHRA, go to www.nhra.com.

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Tenting World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (with each other with its subsidiaries) is America’s most significant retailer of RVs and relevant solutions and providers. Our vision is to establish a very long-expression legacy organization that will make RVing exciting and effortless, and our Camping Globe and Superior Sam manufacturers have been serving RV customers considering the fact that 1966. We strive to establish very long-time period value for our buyers, employees, and shareholders by combining a special and thorough assortment of RV products and services with a countrywide community of RV dealerships, provider facilities and shopper assistance centers together with the industry’s most considerable online presence and a highly qualified and proficient group of associates serving our buyers, the RV life-style, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Very good Sam business and relatives of programs and services uniquely allow us to hook up with our clients as stewards of the RV fanatic group and the RV way of life. With RV sales and company destinations in 42 states, Camping World has grown to turn into the key destinations for every little thing RV. For much more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the principal sanctioning system for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 22 countrywide situations that includes the NHRA Tenting Entire world Drag Racing Sequence, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Sequence, FuelTech NHRA Professional Mod Drag Racing Sequence introduced by D-Wagon, Frequent Aviation Factory Stock Showdown and Major Fuel Harley Series. NHRA supplies competitors prospects for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Lawful. NHRA also delivers the NHRA Jr. Road application for teenagers and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 120 Member Tracks, NHRA makes it possible for racers to compete at a variety of destinations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education and learning Expert services (Sure) Method reaches over 30,000 students yearly to ignite their interest in automotive and racing connected occupations. NHRA’s streaming company, NHRA.tv, lets supporters to check out all NHRA countrywide occasions as perfectly as unique options of the activity. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing services: Gainesville Raceway in Florida Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. For additional facts, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Supply: National Scorching Rod Affiliation

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series

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