Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA

Pomona II: Tommy Lasorda paid a visit to John Force Racing

DODGERS LEGEND LASORDA VISITS LONGTIME FAN, DRIVER HIGHT POMONA (November 17, 2008) --- Auto Club Ford Mustang driver Robert Hight's 2008 season did not wind up being the dream season he had hoped for yesterday with an early exit at the 44th ...

DODGERS LEGEND LASORDA VISITS LONGTIME FAN, DRIVER HIGHT

POMONA (November 17, 2008) --- Auto Club Ford Mustang driver Robert Hight's 2008 season did not wind up being the dream season he had hoped for yesterday with an early exit at the 44th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals. While Hight missed the chance to win his first Funny Car championship, ultimately winding up in fourth place, in arguably one of the toughest Funny Car fields in the past 20 years the lifelong Dodgers fan experienced the ultimate baseball highlight as Dodgers legend Tommy Lasorda was on hand to give his team a post season pep talk.

"It was disappointing to not win the championship but having Tommy Lasorda talk with me and my team afterwards gives us a lot of motivation for 2009. I'd read his book and I have been a fan of his since I was a little kid. To see him out here today; he is like John Force. He will not pass a kid up for an autograph and he is very good at motivating people. He talked to us after we lost and he said there are going to be a lot more races. Don't look back. Don't think about what just happened. Think about that next race you are going to win. He said he lost to the Yankees three times before he finally beat them in the World Series. He just kept moving forward. He did it and they got it done," said Hight.

This weekend Hight raced an LA Dodgers themed Auto Club Ford Mustang during the Auto Club NHRA Finals and Lasorda was at the track representing the Dodgers and serving as the event Grand Marshal.

On Sunday morning Lasorda was scheduled to tour Hight's pit area as well as participate in the John Force Racing pre-race team meeting with all four Funny Car teams, crew chiefs and drivers unfortunately the wildfires that plagued Southern California diverted Lasorda. He arrived just in time to participate in the opening ceremony festivities and watch the first round of competition. Hight and Lasorda talked about baseball and racing during his post race visit to Hight's race trailer and both sports stars signing autographs for the hundreds of fans that congregated by Hight's Auto Club pit area.

When Hight was a young boy he wrote a letter to the Dodgers legend asking for tips on how to be a better baseball player and asking how he could get into the big leagues. To the young boy's surprise Lasorda wrote him back. Hight kept the original letter and it is one of his most prized pieces of sports memorabilia. Earlier this year Hight was able to meet Lasorda for the first time at Dodgers Stadium. Hight threw out the first pitch that night for the Dodgers versus Giants game.

-credit: jfr

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Pomona II: Angelle Sampey race report
Next article Wendland leaves John Force Racing

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

USA