GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 09, 2023) – Robert Hight, debuting the Flav-R-Pac / Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, enters the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals with arguably the most motivation in the class. With the No. 2 on the side of his car after a career-best season, Hight will be looking for a repeat of last season with a slight alternative to the ending.
Coming off a career-best eight wins in the 2022 season, Hight held the points lead for 15 of the 22 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing series events including a stint of 12 consecutive before the final race of the season where he missed the championship title by just three points.
“Last year was amazing, it really was. I’m so proud of this team, they worked hard, and they continued to work hard in the off-season. We were all pretty disappointed with how things ended, and it’s been a long couple of months,” Hight said. “We’re more than ready to get back to racing. I can’t wait to be back in the seat of this Chevy Funny Car. Hopefully, things go our way and we get Flav-R-Pac their first Funny Car win.”
A three-time series champion (2009, 2017, 2019) and a Top 8 finisher every year he has contested a championship, Hight has been especially successful at Gainesville Raceway where he has won the Funny Car title four times (2012, 2014, 2016, 2019). Robert qualified No. 1 for the first time in his career at the 2005 Gatornationals and has started from the No. 1 position in 2007, 2019, and 2022.
“The Gatornationals have always been a big race on the schedule. This year, it’s even more prestigious because we’re opening the season here,” Hight said. “That comes with a lot of other stuff, media day and filming. We’ve also got Don Garlits International Drag Racing Hall of Fame this year with John being inducted. It should be fun, I’m looking forward to going and supporting the boss, he deserves this, he’s earned it.”
The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, the season-opening event in the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, begins with four qualifying sessions Friday at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. with the Pep Boys Call-Out taking place throughout qualifying Saturday. Eliminations on Sunday are slated for 10 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with a qualifying show Saturday at 11 a.m. ET and a dedicated Pep Boys All-Start Callout show on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Sunday race day action will be at noon ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.
