Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Shelby Mustang
Nitro Funny Car class
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
28th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Brainerd International Raceway
August 13-16, 2009
Race 16 of 24
SHORT SUNDAY AFTER STRONG START FOR TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING TEAM IN BRAINERD
BRAINERD, MN – August 16, 2009 – Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team entered Brainerd with power and determination. They proved their focus on Friday after posting the fastest times in both of Friday’s qualifying rounds.
Weather played a key factor on Saturday and rain forced a temporary hold on the competition and ultimately cancelled the fourth and final qualifying session. Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team would use their best qualifying effort of a 4.200 second run at 292.71 miles per hour. Tasca and team were looking forward to that final session to improve that time but settled with the seventh place qualifying effort.
Evening rain showers and early morning drizzle delayed the start of Sunday’s elimination rounds. In the first round, Tasca faced 1985 Brainerd race winner Jim Head. It was the fourth meeting of the pair and Tasca wanted to even the score. Both drivers had traction issues but Tasca was able to keep the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang in front of Head and advance.
“We had a big first round win,” said Tasca. “The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang went out a shook the tires, so I pedaled it. When the tires shook a bracket broke and the fire bottle sprayed me through the run.”
Tasca faced Ron Capps in the second round. Tasca has a 0-5 record against Capps and was determined to score that first win. Tasca fell short to Capps by approximately 18 feet.
“Capps and I had almost identical reaction times, but he had a little more in it,” said Tasca. “It was a tight race and we were on the wrong end of it.”
Tasca remains sixth in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Funny Car standings.
“We’ve won at least one round in the last eight races,” said Tasca. “We’re doing what it takes to secure a position in the Countdown to 1. We’re qualifying and running well. We’re losing some races but by close margins. It is only a matter of time and races like today will go your way.”
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing will return to the track on Friday, August 21, at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, PA.
“I’m looking forward to Reading and glad it is only a few days away,” said Tasca. “We’ve got some solid momentum going into the next race. Reading is where I hit the gas for the first time in a professional race car, so I’m excited to get back there.”
Tony Pedregon won Sunday’s 28th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Full Throttle Points Standings – Funny Car
1. Tony Pedregon, 1,215; 2. Ron Capps, 1,187; 3. Ashley Force Hood, 1,090; 4. Jack Beckman, 960; 5. Tim Wilkerson, 950; 6. Bob Tasca III, 894; 7. Del Worsham, 877; 8. John Force, 846; 9. Mike Neff, 778; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 768.
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing on the Web
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/MQL_Racing
Facebook – http://tinyurl.com/MotorcraftQuickLaneRacing
Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorcraftquicklaneracing/
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of original equipment-approved parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood and powertrain repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available locally and are backed nationwide by Ford Motor Company's Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit https://portal.hostedmail.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.motorcraft.com/.
About Quick Lane
Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes and models. Quick Lane's® nationwide network of 530 facilities provides the convenience of an aftermarket company (no appointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekend hours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotive manufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained technicians). Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit https://portal.hostedmail.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.quicklane.com/.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 201,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit https://portal.hostedmail.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ford.com/.
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