Robert Hight leads NHRA Funny Car qualifying

MADISON, Ill. (AP) Robert Hight took the provisional No. 1 qualifier in Funny Car on Friday in the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Hight pushed his Chevrolet Camaro SS to a 3.893-second pass at 328.38 mph during the second session. He won in Gainesville, Florida, this year and is seventh in the season standings.

''This was a big day for us, but it's only one day,'' said Hight, the 2009 Funny Car season champion. ''We tested on Monday, me and John (Force), and it's really hard to judge your performance and gauge because you don't have other cars there. You don't really know until you go to the next race track and you've got other cars. So, to go out there and be No. 1 two runs in a row today with all the changes we've made on the car, that really shows how good my team is.''

Australia's Richie Crampton led the Top Fuel field, Greg Anderson topped the Pro Stock lineup, and Chip Ellis was the fastest in Pro Stock Motorcycle in the second race in the six-event Countdown. Crampton had a 3.733 at 323.50, Anderson ran a 6.607 at 209.30 in a Camaro, and Ellis rode his Buell to a 6.850 at 196.53.