NHRA Shocker: Robert Hight Resigns as John Force Racing President

John Force Racing made the shocking announcement Thursday morning that Robert Hight, the organization’s president, had resigned, effectively ending his career in drag racing.

Due to an undisclosed medical ailment, Hight missed the whole 2024 NHRA season. Austin Prock, who would later win the 2024 NHRA Funny Car championship, took his place.

Hight’s future is now known, however before this season, neither JFR nor he had stated whether he would resume racing following his illness hiatus.

“I had 30 great years at JFR,” Hight, 55, stated in a press statement.

“But I’m just glad I was there to help him and the company through everything that happened last year.”

“But being out of the car last year made me realize there are other things I want to do, especially with my wife Leslie and my family.”

“John (Force) opened so many doors for me.

” Hight had been the team’s president since January 2011. He was formerly married to Force’s oldest daughter, Adria, and is the father of the couple’s daughter, #

Autumn Hight, who aspires to be a drag racer.

“Family is everything,” stated John Force in a press statement.

“Thus, even though I will miss Robert, I recognize that he has other interests. For over 25 years, he played a significant role in John Force Racing’s success.

I hope he succeeds in whatever he chooses to pursue because I adore him.

” The 2025 JFR Media Guide had already announced that Hight would be returning to full duties as the organization’s president after

missing the majority of last year due to the unidentified medical ailment,

which makes Thursday’s statement all the more unexpected.

But according to a post on TrapShooters.com earlier this week,

Hight has purportedly acquired Durham Gun Works,

a guns firm located in Oxford, North Carolina, which will mark the next phase of his career

. Tom Wilkinson, the proprietor of Durham Gun Works, posted,

“I would like to announce my retirement and the transfer of my business to Robert Hight.”

“Robert has recently retired from racing and will be conducting the business full time going forward.”

Robert will utilize all of my proprietary equipment and same machinery that I have been educating him on in my firm.

He is highly dedicated and knowledgeable about the kind of machining experience and understanding required to successfully advance the company.”

Hight has long been a competitive trap shooter, so it’s not a huge leap to guess why he switched from racing to weapons.

It’s unknown whether Hight would relocate his recently acquired company closer to his home in Utah or keep it in North Carolina.

Before moving to Southern California more than thirty years ago,

Hight was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah. A couple of years ago, he returned to Utah.

Three Funny Car titles (2009, 2017, and 2019), 65 national event victories,

102 career final rounds,

and career-best times of 3.793 seconds and 339.87 mph are all highlights of Hight’s NHRA career.

Hight placed second in the Funny Car class in 2023, his most recent season of competing.

After ten years as a part of the JFR team,

Hight made his NHRA Funny Car circuit debut in 2005,

winning Rookie of the Year with two victories and six No. 1 qualifying. Force, who will soon be 76 years old, has not named a replacement for Hight as team president.

Force will probably not be able to drive again after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a serious collision last June close to Richmond, Virginia.