SONOMA SUCCESS ON HORIZON FOR HIGHT

John Force RacingRobert Hight Pre-Race PackageEvent: 22nd annual FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals, 15th of 24 events in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.Site: Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.Dates: July, 24-26 2009* * * *SONOMA SUCCESS ON HORIZON FOR HIGHT“We have always done well in Sonoma. We won it last year and we’ll try and keep the streak alive with another win. This would be four in a row for John Force Racing. The first in the streak was Eric (Medlen), then John (Force), then me last year. For my Auto Club Mustang right now it is getting to be do or die. We didn’t get hurt too bad (in Seattle) but sure could have done some damage.�?? -  Robert Hight* * * *Team info at www.johnforceracing.comFollow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racingFollow John Force RaceStation store at www.twitter.com/JFRaceStationFollow Courtney Force at www.twitter.com/courtneyforce****The DriverRobert Hight, 39, driver of the Auto Club of Southern California Ford Mustang, is entering 2009 following his fourth consecutive Full Throttle Top Five finish. He is the only Funny Car driver to have led the points each of the last four seasons. He is the defending event champion of the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals.  The 2005 winner of the Auto Club’s Road to the Future award that identifies the Rookie of the Year, he owns the two quickest 1000 foot times in Funny Car history (4.056 and 4.005 seconds) and well as the quickest quarter mile times in Funny Car history (4.646 and 4.636 seconds). * * * *Robert Hight By the Numbers:1 – Number of times Hight has been No. 1 qualifier in 2009 (Pomona1)1 – Number of times Hight has been No. 1 qualifier at FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals3 – Number of semi-finals Hight has reached in 20096 – Number of semi-finals Hight had reached by this point in 20083 – Hight’s position in the Full Throttle points standings entering Sonoma in 200812 – Hight’s current position in the Full Throttle point standings43 – Number of points Hight is behind No. 10 placeholder rookie Matt Hagan* * * *Full Throttle Point Standings (After fourteen of 24 Full Throttle events)FUNNY CAR - 1. Ron Capps, 1039; 2. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 1018; 3. Tony Pedregon, 1009; 4. Jack Beckman, 855; 5. Tim Wilkerson, 804; 6. Del Worsham, 791; 7. Bob Tasca III, 787; 8. John Force, Castrol GTX High Mileage Ford Mustang, 739; 9. Mike Neff, Ford Drive One Mustang, 683; 10. Matt Hagan, 669; Also 11. Cruz Pedregon, 662, 12. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 626.TOP FUEL - 1. Antron Brown, 1168; 2. Tony Schumacher, 1031; 3. Larry Dixon, 998; 4. Brandon Bernstein, 913; 5. Spencer Massey, 819; 6. Cory McClenathan, 814; 7. Shawn Langdon, 773; 7. Morgan Lucas, 773; 9. Doug Kalitta, 666; 10. Clay Millican, 567.PRO STOCK - 1. Jeg Coughlin, 1199; 2. Mike Edwards, 1179; 3. Jason Line, 1086; 4. Greg Anderson, 951; 5. Allen Johnson, 933; 6. Greg Stanfield, 744; 7. Ron Krisher, 704; 8. Kurt Johnson, 668; 9. Rickie Jones, 608; 10. Warren Johnson, 575.PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE - 1. Eddie Krawiec, 719/739; 2. Andrew Hines, 651/671; 3. Matt Smith, 559; 4. Craig Treble, 535; 5. Douglas Horne, 506; 6. Hector Arana, 472; 7. Matt Guidera, 446; 8. Steve Johnson, 360; 9. Shawn Gann, 356; 10. Karen Stoffer, 351. ****Track Records:Top Fuel* - 4.486 seconds by Tony Schumacher, July ’06; 331.36 mph by Dave Grubnic, July ’06Funny Car*- 4.738 seconds by Robert Hight, July ’06; 326.79 mph by Mike Ashley, July ’07Pro Stock- 6.590 seconds by Jason Line, July ’08; 209.33 mph by Warren Johnson, July ’08PS Motorcycle – 6.885 seconds by Matt Smith, July ’08; 196.13 mph by Andrew Hines, Aug. ’04 (*performance records will not be officially recorded in Top Fuel and Funny Car at this event) ****Race Schedule:Friday – Pro Qualifying:             4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday – Pro Qualifying:             11:30 and 2:15 p.m.Sunday – Pre-race:                       10:00 a.m.Final eliminations:          11:00 a.m.* * * *Television:Saturday, July 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day at 11 a.m. (ET).Sunday, July 26, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise 3 hours of final round eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET).Team PR and Marketing Contacts:Dave Densmore, PR                           Elon Werner, PR                                 
Denswood Sports                                John Force Racing, Inc.               214-244-0008                                      214-244-1184 denswood@aol.com                          Elon@johnforceracing.com       Chad Light, Marketing                        Kelly Antonelli, Marketing                  Andrew Hagstrom, SponsorshipJohn Force Racing, Inc.                      John Force Racing, Inc.                      IMG714-921-8123                                   317-858-8900                             714.326.3450Chad@johnforceracing.com                Kelly@johnforceracing.com       andrew.hagstrom@imgworld.comSponsor PR Contacts: Rick Lalor                              Lori Anne Gola                     Kevin KennedyAuto Club of SC                   BP Lubricants                       Ford Racing                
714-885-2085                      973-633-2393                      313-203-7108lalor.rick@aaa-calif.com    lorianne.gola@bp.com      kkennedy@pcgcampbell.com ROBERT HIGHT SONOMA SUCCESS ON HORIZON FOR HIGHTSONOMA, CA (July 22, 2009) --- Last year Hight scored an emotional win for John Force Racing and his Auto Club Ford Mustang team. For the third year in a row a member of John Force Racing has captured the event win. Beginning in 2006 with the late Eric Medlen then in 2007 John Force scored his own emotional victory at Infineon Raceway a driver for John Force Racing has hoisted the “Wally�?? inside the ropes at Infineon Raceway’s winner’s circle. This year Hight wants to focus on the emotions of honoring his lost teammate and getting ready for a hard fight over the last four NHRA national events before the Countdown to One.“We have always done well in Sonoma. We won it last year and we’ll try and keep the streak alive with another win. This would be four in a row for John Force Racing. The first in the streak was Eric, then John, then me last year. For my Auto Club Mustang right now it is getting to be do or die. We didn’t get hurt too bad (in Seattle) but sure could have done some damage,�?? said Hight.“It goes right back to qualifying. Basically I had third low ET of the first round in Seattle. It would have beaten just about anybody else in that first round except (Ron) Capps and (Tim) Wilkerson. Tim happened to be in the other lane against me.�??“My Auto Club Mustang was hurt in that first round race. It was hurt early, early. We were pretty disgusted when the round was over when you consider if the engine would have run right. It burned up the No. 6 cylinder early in the run. Sometimes I say we are better of being on the slow side now (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) is going the other way. He thinks there is a lot more left in this thing. (In Sonoma) we are going to be more aggressive.�??The race in Sonoma at Infineon Raceway is a chance for Hight to return to the area of northern California where the veteran crewman and driver grew up.“I remember when I was a kid (Infineon Raceway) was Sears Point back then but I would really look forward to the race. I am sure there are people right now that are planning their weekend off or something around this FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals. I remember being on the fence and ropes watching guys like Kenny Bernstein, The Snake and John Force," said Hight.“I’m excited. I am not going home to Yorba Linda I am going to drive down to Sonoma with my daughter Autumn in one of the Ford Flexes. She’s going to get to watch DVDs and I am going to make it fun for her. She has been out here (in Seattle) with me. I want to let her be a kid and do some fun things.�??“Thursday (of race week) we are going to get after it. We are going to work hard to get her ready to win (the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals).�??Hight knows that the opportunity to jump into the Top Ten is his for the taking. His fellow NHRA competitors also have a chance but in Hight’s opinion no one has seized the momentum during the first two races of the NHRA Western Swing.“It is almost like (Matt) Hagan (in 10th place) and (Cruz) Pedregon (in 11th place) and myself none of us want that number ten spot. I can tell you I want it and I want more than that. Sonoma is where we better get after it and make a move. Otherwise it could be too late,�?? summed up Hight.As the Western Swing has progressed the 2005 NHRA Rookie of the Year’s optimism has increased with each pass. Hight never lost confidence with crew chief Jimmy Prock or his team but they struggled to start the season trying to make a tricky new clutch set-up work. Finally, the team decided to reverse course prior to the Chicago national event and since that time Hight has seen steady improvement in his Auto Club Mustangs performance.“The biggest plus is this Mustang is tuneable for (crew chief) Jimmy (Prock) now. We have been running better in qualifying on Friday which lets us run later in the session on Saturday. It has been tough to have to race your teammates but we need to start racing some of these other guys to make up some points. I like to be able to look at the track and clear my head before we run and lately I have been able to do that. That is a big plus for us,�?? said Hight.“I am looking forward to being able to walk the track at Sonoma and know that we can make some progress with the Full Throttle Top Ten. I want to get this Auto Club Ford Mustang in the winner’s circle and I think we just as good a chance as anybody this weekend at Infineon Raceway.�??####Did you know…-          Robert Hight will be featured on the cover of Drag Racer magazine has been on newsstands since the first week of July.-          Hight and sister-in-law Ashley Force Hood are featured in an Auto Club of Southern California television commercial that is getting rave reviews on the Full Throttle Drag racing Series.-          Hight and his three teammates will be cruising to Cabo San Lucas for New Year’s Eve as part of the John Force Racing Fan Cruise III sponsored by AAA. Fans can get more information by calling 1-888-874-7222. Get team info here: www.johnforceracing.comFollow John Force Racing at www.twitter.com/jfr_racing