Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang
Nitro Funny Car Class
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
10th Annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV
October 29 - 31, 2010
Race 22 of 23
Countdown to 1 - Race 5 of 6
TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING REACH SEMIFINALS AT LAS VEGAS; MAINTAIN FIFTH IN SERIES STANDINGS
LAS VEGAS, NV – October 31, 2010 – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team entered The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway determined to perform well. Perform well they did, although they lost to eventual race champion John Force in the semifinals.
Tasca qualified in the sixth position for Sunday’s eliminations after posting a weekend’s best qualifying effort of 4.092 seconds at 309.20 miles per hour during Friday’s opening session.
In the opening elimination round, Tasca faced Gary Densham. Tasca was first off the line and had a clean pass to the finish line, while Densham smoked the tires at 300 feet. Tasca posted a 4.158-second pass at 305.49 miles per hour compared to Densham’s 6.190-second pass at 118.94 miles per hour.
During the quarterfinals, Tasca faced the Dodge of Ron Capps. The pair had nearly identical reaction times and Capps took the lead but started smoking the tires just past the 330-foot marker. Tasca dropped a cylinder at the hit of the throttle, but recovered in time to pass Capps at the 660-foot maker. Tasca’s 4.305-second run at 297.94 miles per hour defeated Capps’ 4.763-second run at 183.87 miles per hour. Tasca’s margin of victory was 0.4573 seconds, more than 100 feet.
In the semifinals, Tasca faced fellow Ford driver John Force. Tasca was first off the line, shook the tires and pedaled the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang. Force had a clean pass with a 4.130-second run at 307.72 miles per hour compared to Tasca’s 5.962-second run at 122.71 miles per hour.
“It was a very good weekend for us but it wasn’t good enough,” said Tasca. “We race to win and that’s the attitude of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team. Unfortunately we just missed by just a hair. I felt the car rattle so I pedaled it. With a fuel car, sometimes it will stick and go, other times it will smoke the tires. When I pedaled it, the clutch was flying at the engine and the track was good. It actually has enough energy to take the car and wheelie it. I was able to get out of it [tire shake] and get back in control.”
Tasca remains fifth in series points with one race remaining in the 2010 season. Before heading to Pomona, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team will test in Las Vegas.
“For this Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, we’ve positioned ourselves in the number five spot, put a lot of points on everyone behind us and closed the gap a little bit on the fourth spot,” said Tasca. “We have a real shot to move into that fourth spot in our third year. That’s something I know my whole team is proud of accomplishing. Winning the championship and winning races is why I’m out here; it’s why I’m dedicating my life to it. We made a lot of progress this year and you can see our development on track with our performance in posting big numbers in optimal conditions. I’d love to end the season on a win in Pomona and carry some momentum to next year.”
Force defeated Matt Hagan in the finals to win Sunday’s 10th Annual NHRA Las Vegas Nationals.
“I tip my hat to John; he had a great hot rod this weekend,” said Tasca. “Congratulations to John; he made a big gain in points to put his team and Ford in a position to win the championship going into Pomona.”
The series takes a break for one weekend and returns on Thursday, November 11, for the Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, in Pomona, CA.
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Points
1. Matt Hagan, 2537; 2. John Force, 2500; 3. Jack Beckman, 2401; 4. Ashley Force Hood, 2388; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2324; 6. Del Worsham, 2253; 7. Ron Capps, 2252; 8. Robert Hight, 2239; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 2232; 10. Tony Pedregon, 2199
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing on the Web
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/MQL_Racing
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/MQLRacing
Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/motorcraftquicklaneracing
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers, independent distributors, and automotive parts retailers and are backed by Ford Motor Company’s Service Parts Limited Warranty. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes and models. Quick Lane’s nationwide network will surpass 600 facilities, each providing 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 www.quicklane.com.
About FordParts.com
FordParts.com allows customers to shop online for over 283,000 Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts. With FordParts.com, repair shops, body shops, fleets and do-it-yourselfers can shop for, order and ultimately receive parts 24/7 via the click of a mouse. It lets each customer remain connected to their Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership for the parts expertise, personal delivery assistance, and post-sale follow-up associated with a traditional purchase. All customers visiting FordParts.com will benefit from its comprehensive, yet user-friendly nature, perhaps best expressed in the way Ford and Motorcraft parts are shopped for and selected. To do so, customers can enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and shop with unmatched accuracy for parts uniquely associated with the vehicle or start by entering the year, make and model of the vehicle. Adding to the site’s functionality is the ability to view 22,865 technical illustrations on many of the parts and assemblies. For more information, visit www.fordparts.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 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
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