The Auto Club Ford Mustang that Robert Hight has driven from the depths of the point standings to the top of the heap in just over five weeks is possibly the best race car he has ever had. He opened the 2009 Countdown to 1 with two wins and he has been the number one qualifier the past two races. He grabbed the points lead in Dallas but last weekend in Memphis a second round exit and a semi-final finish by teammate and sister-in-law Ashley Force Hood dropped him to second place a mere three points out of the top spot.

"Our car is performing well. I am driving alright. We got out ran (versus Ron Capps). We didn't make any mistakes or smoke the tires. (Crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) was racing a little safe. I didn't get left on. They just shot a shot out there on us. First round it was a little fast and Jimmy softened it up," said Hight. "The second round it was a little too soft. It kind of stuck the tire leaving and had we had that happened in the first round it wouldn't have done that and we would have fixed it and it would have beat him in the second round. You have to give them credit they went up there and made a good run. They got themselves right back into this points race. Ashley and I are fighting it out. Tony Pedregon will basically be right there with us. I am glad we have our two cars up at the top. We'll just keep fighting."

Hight has moved from a potential spoiler to one of the top teams to beat in order to win the 2009 Full Throttle championship. The former world class trap shooter is not afraid to be the driver wearing the bulls-eye.

"Other teams are always gunning for you. That is not a big deal. They should be gunning for us. I am gunning for them. That is how we got into this position and got back up on top. We work hard and do the right thing. We have to continue to do the right thing and we'll be just fine," added Hight.

Last year in the first round of eliminations Hight made the jaw dropping run of the season in Funny Car an electrifying 4.005 second run. No one has come close to that kind of elapsed time since and Hight is hoping to get similar conditions with a little twist this weekend.

"It is good air in Richmond. This time of year it is more than likely going to be cool. In all honesty I would like it to be a little bit on the hotter side because I think it separates us a little bit from the pack when it is hot. With those kind of conditions you see a lot of guys like Jeff Arend (Memphis winner), Ron Capps and these guys step up. These conditions are a great equalizer. I would just as soon have a little more finesse and trust Jimmy Prock to get it down there."

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Courtesy of Elon Werner