Words by Jeff Burk
Photos by Ron Lewis and Joe McHugh

Robert Hight continued his “Outhouse to Penthouse” post-season drive for the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Championship last Sunday by beating teammate and former points leader Ashley Force Hood in the final round of the O’Reilly Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals. Tony Schumacher won in Top Fuel and moved into the points lead over rival Larry Dixon who drives for the Al-Anabi team. Hector Arana proved that his U.S. Nationals win wasn’t a fluke in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Greg Anderson found his way back to the NHRA Pro Stock winner’s circle after an extended absence.

Just reading about the race gives the impression that the Motorplex race was just another great race at drag racing’s original, Billy Meyer-built “stadium” facility but those that watched it in person and on TV know that because of drastically unequal lanes this was a race where qualifying in the top half of the 16-car field and the lane choice that came with that effort pretty much guaranteed who would make the final rounds. The great racing was in the eyes of the beholder!

Hight entered the final race of the regular season 12th in the point standings and in jeopardy of not making the playoffs but a questionable win over John Force at Indy guaranteed him a spot in the Countdown to 1. Since Indy  he has won the first two races of the six-race series  that will determine the Full Throttle championship.