Robert Hight (Funny Car), Billy Torrence (Top Fuel), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were all winners at the 11th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Raceway at Gateway.
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“We won in 2018 but didn’t get celebrate because I had to go to the hospital, said Robert Hight. “We are going to double celebrate tonight”
In 2018 Hight won the Funny Car race but his car blew up in dramatic fashion at the finish line. The fiberglass shell of the car flew off the track. Hight sustained injuries and was taken to Saint Louis University hospital.
Hight won on a holeshot with a pass of 3.911 at 331.61 beating Ron Capps who was quicker with a 3.908 at 330.47. The win gives Hight a 46 points lead over Capps after race 3 of 6 in the countdown to the Championship. This was also Hight’s 8th win of the season.
“To say we’ve got eight wins, that makes me very proud, but here’s the hard truth: if I don’t have more than eight, I probably won’t win the championship,” warned Hight.” So we’ve got to stay focused and work hard, and this team is up for it. We don’t need to leave anything on the table.”
In Top Fuel, Steve Torrence had a dominating weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. This weekend he was the top qualifier in Top Fuel and on Elimination Sunday, he beat Buddy Hully, Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta on his way to the final race. Then with a run of 3.741-seconds at 328.70 mph squeezed by Josh Hart who ran 3.749 at 329.67 mph in a side-by-side race to the finish line.
This was the fourth win at WWT Raceway and his second win of 2022 and 53 overall in his career. At the start of the weekend he was in 5th place overall in the Season Points Championship, but left St. Louis in second place and only 14 points behind Justin Ashley.
“We’ve struggled all year, some of it self-inflicted, but this was a great weekend for us,” Torrence said. “We’re glad to be back in this Countdown to the Championship and it’s been a heck of a year. To come here and have success, it’s nothing short of a blessing. I tried to screw it up a couple times today and my guys saved me, and I was able to step up in the final round.
Steve Torrence is going for his fifth straight world title in Top Fuel.
“We saw the main players go out early today and the door creaked open a little, and we were able to get our foot in it,” said Torrence. “But it’s tough and we’re doing the best we can and trying to remain focused on the main priority, which is trying to win a championship. This place [WWT Raceway] has been unbelievable to us and we’re going to carry that confidence into Texas.”
Erica Enders, who will have to claim St. Louis as one of second homes, winning her fourth World Wide Technology Racway win in a row and her sixth St Louis win overall. She now has the most wins at WWT Raceway.
“This track has definitely been great to us,” Enders said. “We’ve been coming here since we were 15 and we love St. Louis. We’ve had a ton of success here and we made up some ground today.”
She has now opened up a 120 points lead in the Countdown Championship.
“My sister says ‘Everything changes in St. Louis'”, said Enders pondering another season championship. “I’m hopeful to keep the drive for five (world championships) alive. This has been a tremendous year for our team, and they’ve worked so hard. I’m so proud to have them.”
In Pro Stock Motorcyle, Matt Smith dominated the entire weekend at World Wide Raceway. Earlier in the weekend he set track records and was the #1 qualifier.
Smith ran a 6.756 at 202.00 against Jerry Savoie in the championship round. With the win he took over the points lead.
“It was a big weekend for this whole team,” Smith said. “Leaving here No. 1 and (Angie Smith) No. 3 in points was huge for the team. This whole class is tough. What a weekend here. I love the track and the fans here, and I just love the atmosphere.”
Brittnay force Sets National Speed Record
Brittany Force set a new national speed record with a 338.43 miles per hour run easily beating Austin Prock to advance to the second round.
Brittany Force owns all top 10 speed NHRA speed records in Top Fuel.
“Killer Run!” exclaimed Brittany describing her run.
Smith’s win is also his fourth of the year and 36 career win.
Story By: Kevin Proot / stlracing.com & St Louis Motor Racing News
Photos By: Larry Vancil / stlracing.com & St Louis Motor Racing News