Bristol, Tenn. – Bob Tasca III said he would have traveled anywhere for an opportunity so near-and-dear to him. This year, the native New Englander and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Funny Car driver had his chance. Tasca rejoiced with his team, elated and victorious, in the New England Nationals held on June 10th. But as previously mentioned, he brought the trophy home from nearly 1,000 miles away in Tennessee.
“It was really special to be able to win your home race,” Tasca said. “It’s a race that I wanted to win my whole career. It’s a track that got me started in drag racing, and all the New England fans have pulled for me for all these years. It really was special to win that race in Bristol. It was funny because they said that you had to go to Bristol to get the New England trophy, and I told them that I would have gone to Alaska to get it.”
Mother Nature was less than welcoming in Tasca’s homecoming, as persistent precipitation diluted any chance of completing the original New England Nationals program that was set for the weekend prior in Epping, N.H. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) was forced to postpone the weekend’s events and devised a double-header solution by pairing the continuation of the event with the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. While it did not give Tasca home field advantage, at a dragway he owes to his early stardom, it did not deter him from his mission of hoisting the trophy.
Tasca qualified 11th, but shook the field in a series of upsets to the finals. Ron Capps, Robert Hight and the one-seeded Chad Green were among the competitors he battled through in his campaign. Tasca advanced to a showdown with John Force in the final round, where his Ford Mustang caught its stride following the start to a 4.032-second run at 322.96 mph. This edged Force’s 4.085 time at 320.51 mph.
Tasca holds a 25-14 elimination-round record against Force, including a perfect 5-0 record in final rounds. The victory marks Tasca’s 13th in the Nitro Funny Car class and first of the season. Furthermore, this particular National event Wally he has long-sought adds to the Tasca family legacy.
“To win that one and have the momentum we’ve had to start this year… and going into the middle part of the season, it’s really exciting for this Motorcraft Ford Mustang… to have this kind of momentum,” Tasca said.
“On behalf of the entire Motorcraft team, we want to congratulate Bob’s New England Nationals victory, “ said Fletch Carter, Ford Customer Service Division, U.S. Sales Manager. “Ford and Motorcraft are so proud of Bob as a driver, ambassador and teacher on and off the track. He is so deserving to have won his home race and it is a truly special accomplishment for him.”
Tasca supersedes his role as the Vice President of Tasca Automotive Group, team owner and driver by working alongside Ford to attract and retain automotive technicians. During the school year, he speaks to students who take part in the NHRA’s YES (Youth and Education Services) programs. He also participates in race-day hospitality programs for current Ford technicians.
Next on the schedule is the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals set for June 22-25 in Norwalk, Ohio.
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About Ford Motor Company
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