Hight, team are out in full Force

Robert Hight led his John Force Racing team to a remarkable showing Saturday by winning the pole for today's championship eliminations in the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

He will be driving one of four Force Funny Cars competing. In addition to rookie Ashley Force, teammates Mike Neff and Phil Burkart Jr. will be flying the team's Ford Mustang banner in the 16-car field for the first time.

Neff, a former crew chief for Gary Scelzi, is competing in his first NHRA event as a driver. Burkart is subbing for injured team owner and 14-time champion John Force.

"Getting four Castrol Mustangs qualified is a feat in itself," said Hight, who earned his third pole at Las Vegas and eighth of his career. "It's already been a successful weekend."

Behind Hight in qualifying are fellow Countdown to the Championship contenders Tony Pedregon and Scelzi with Ron Capps in sixth.

• PRO STOCK -- Points leader Dave Connolly moved into the No. 1 qualifying position with a run of 6.725 seconds (205.57 mph) in the first of two sessions Saturday in a Chevrolet Cobalt, and it held up for his second pole of the season.

Reigning Pro Stock champion Jason Line and teammate Greg Anderson, who won at Las Vegas in April for owner Ken Black, qualified their Pontiac GTOs second and third.

• MOTORCYCLE -- Chip Ellis eclipsed the track elapsed time record he set Friday when he completed the quartermile in 7.023 seconds (189.60 mph) to win the pole in Pro Stock Motorcycle on a Buell.

It's his fourth consecutive No. 1 top qualifying effort, but he has not won a title this season.

• NOT QUALIFIED -- Two professional drivers with Southern Nevada ties did not qualify.

Hillary Will, who drives a Top Fuel dragster for Las Vegans Ken and Kenny Black, will miss elimination rounds for first time in her 45-event, two-year career.

In Funny Car, part-time competitor Jon Capps of Las Vegas did not qualify.

• NOT JUST NASCAR -- Two major sponsors of NASCAR stock-car racing will have a major presence in NHRA next year.

NAPA Auto Parts, which supports Michael Waltrip's Nextel Cup team, will sponsor the Don Schumacher Racing Funny Car driven by Ron Capps.

Geico Insurance, which sponsors Northern Nevada's Karen Stoffer in Pro Stock Motorcycle, extended her sponsorship through 2010 and will become a major NHRA series sponsor.

That means Geico's gecko mascot will begin splitting time between the drags and NASCAR's Busch Series.

• NORTH CAROLINA TRACK -- The City Council of Concord, N.C., voted unanimously Friday to rescind its ban on construction of a dragstrip at Lowe's Motor Speedway, which, like the Las Vegas track, is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc.

The track eventually is expected to host an NHRA pro tour event. A new 24th event for 2008 is scheduled for Sept. 11 to 14 and could take place in Gainesville, Fla., if the North Carolina track isn't completed in time.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@ reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0247.