POMONA, Calif. – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Funny Car Team won the Auto Club NHRA Finals this evening (Nov. 14). As a result, Tasca vaulted into third place in the final 2021 NHRA Nitro Funny Car standings, setting a personal best. Today’s win was also Tasca’s third race victory of the season, yet another career high.

“We didn’t win the war, but we won the battle today in this Motorcraft car,” said Tasca. “It’s just such a privilege to drive this for the Ford fans and for the sponsors on this car. I’ll tell you this, Jim Farley (Ford CEO) is watching. He’s got Ford Motor Company on fire and he’s got this team on fire. When no one believed in me, he did. He set us on this path to win and chase a championship. We didn’t get it this year but we’re coming after it next year.”

The Tasca-driven Mustang knocked off a pair of former world champions en route to today’s victory. Tasca toppled 2018 champ J.R. Todd in the first round before edging 16-time champ John Force by 0.0049 seconds (approximately 2 feet) in the semifinals. In the final against Alexis DeJoria, Tasca was first off the starting line and led for the duration of the race, clocking a 3.955 ET at 321.65 mph. His margin of victory was 0.0448, or nearly 21 feet.

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Tasca’s other two wins this season occurred in back-to-back events, Las Vegas (April 18) and Atlanta (May 2). He now owns nine career NHRA Nitro Funny Car wins.

“All of us at Motorcraft are thrilled to see Bob finish off the 2021 season on a high note in Los Angeles,” said Jonathan Orth, Marketing Manager for Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD). “Ford and Motorcraft are incredibly thankful for the excellent work that Bob and his team have put into representing our organizations this season. We’re already looking forward to 2022.”

Through his role as team owner and driver, Tasca works to help Ford attract and retain automotive technicians by talking to students who participate in NHRA’s YES (Youth and Education Services) programs.

The 2022 campaign begins Feb. 20 at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.