READING, PA – September 17, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Funny Car points leader Robert Hight opened the Countdown to the Championship playoffs in impressive fashion, powering to the provisional No. 1 qualifier on Friday at the 37th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway.
Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Angie Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Hight continued his incredible 2022 to open the playoffs, racing to the No. 1 position with his pass of 3.867-seconds at 331.20 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS. Hight is seeking his fourth No. 1 qualifier this season and 75th in his career, but the points leader is also looking to add to the six wins he’s already put together. He’s been remarkably consistent throughout the season and the team’s mindset won’t change during the Countdown to the Championship as the three-time world champ looks to continue his success this year.
“We have to be aggressive and we’re going to need all the points we can get,” Hight said. “You have to get your mind right because anything can happen with such a small lead. We have to pick up every point we can. It’s one run at a time. That’s what it’s going to take to win this championship. Every point matters.
“We had a team meeting and we talked about we have six races, and we have to give it our all. We’ve got to put everything that really doesn’t matter to the side and focus on this car — but you really don’t have to tell this team that. They’re switched on. It’s exciting to be part of this, exciting to see their smiles when you come back in the pits. We’ll work hard and try to get more of those points tomorrow.”
Hight’s teammate, 16-time world champion John Force, is second after going 3.890 at 329.99, while defending world champ Ron Capps, who is coming off his huge U.S. Nationals victory in Indy, is right behind thanks to his 3.891 at 334.90. A pair of three-time winners in 2022 round out the top five, as Bob Tasca III is currently fourth with his 3.904 and Matt Hagan is fifth after a run of 3.906.
In Top Fuel, Ashley continued his success at Maple Grove Raceway, taking the No. 1 spot on Friday with a run of 3.703 at 330.55 in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Connect Toyota dragster. In his first Countdown to the…
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