For the third time in John Force Racing history the team has swept the nitro categories at an NHRA national event. Brittany Force with Advance Auto Parts and Robert Hight with AAA Texas picked up victories at the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals at Houston Raceway Park on Sunday.

(Robert Hight’s 48th career event win came alongside his Top Fuel class teammate Brittany Force)

Friday night, Robert Hight was sitting outside the 16-car field, Saturday he had propelled the AAA Texas Chevy Camaro SS into the No. 5 qualifying position. Sunday he was holding his third Wally of the 2019 season, third at Houston Raceway Park and 48th of his career.

It was clear that with Friday qualifying behind them, Hight and the AAA Texas team were back in their characteristically consistent championship form. A pair of 3.9-second runs already under their belt entering the first round of eliminations, Hight powered the AAA Texas Camaro to a 3.895-second pass at 322.27 mph to defeat Jonnie Lindberg and his 3.961 pass at 310.63. The second round matched Hight up with reigning world champion J.R. Todd. With a .052 reaction time to Todd’s .073, Hight never trailed crossing the finish line at 3.914-seconds at 314.75 mph bettering Todd’s 3.940 at 318.17.

For the fourth time this season Hight would face teammate and John Force Racing owner John Force during eliminations. It was the third time the pair had matched-up in the semifinals and for the third time the result was the same, Hight would send the boss to the trailer. It was a tight race with Hight gaining a .064 advantage over Force’s .070 reaction time. Hight would defeat the 16-time world champion with a 3.924-second pass at 309.91 mph. Force would run a 3.932 at 312.78.

The finals would put Hight against rival Matt Hagan for a classic John Force Racing versus Don Schumacher Racing drag race. Hight again never trailed bettering Hagan on reaction time and putting up the winning time of 3.941-seconds at 310.84 mph to Hagan’s 3.966 at 311.70.

“I had a tough road. Jonnie Lindberg, he’s a tough competitor. Second round against J.R. Todd, he’s the current champion and John Force, he’s looking for his 150th win. Nobody will ever, ever match that or even come close. Then I had Matt Hagan in the final,” said Hight. “It was a tough day and it was kind of funny because Tiger Woods goes out and wins the Master’s today and they look at him as an old man. He’s 43 year’s old. Well, I guess in this sport I’m older than most of the guys I race other than the boss and it shows that the older guys can still get it done.”

Posted by Sara Slaughter

Matt Hagan had a strong event – going to the final round in the DSR Pennzoil/Mopar Fast Lane Hellcat.

Event Essentials:   NHRA Mopar Express Lane Springnationals (Apr. 12-14th, 2019) 

John Force himself qualified #1 and set both low ET and top speed in the Peak BlueDEF edition Camaro

Photos courtesy of NHRA – Ron Lewis – Auto Imagery