Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Team Win Reading

Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Shelby Mustang
Nitro Funny Car class
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

25th Annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals
Maple Grove Raceway August 20-23, 2009
Race 17 of 24

TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING TEAM WIN READING

· Tasca won Sunday’s 25th Annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, Funny Car class.
· This is Tasca’s second career Funny Car win.
· Tasca moves to fourth in series points, 284 points behind leader Tony Pedregon.
· Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team secured their place in the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Countdown to 1.

READING, PA – August 23, 2009 – After three rainy days, one solid qualifying pass, and four rounds of racing, Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team celebrate with their second win of the season.

“My Motorcraft/Quick Lane team worked all night to get this Mustang right for Sunday morning,” said Tasca. “We beat Ron Capps and Robert Hight in the first two rounds. Then we had a massive engine failure against John Force. We took our Mustang back to the pits and Chris Cunningham, Marc Denner and the guys did an amazing job rebuilding it so we could win in the final round.”

Similar to his win in Gainesville, Tasca went round for round with some of the series best en route to his second career win. Tasca defeated Ron Capps in the first round followed by a fierce trio of John Force Racing drivers. Tasca defeated Robert Hight in the second round, John Force in the third and Mike Neff in the finals.

“The more experience we get as a team, the more focused and determined we are to win,” said Tasca. “The more you have these moments to succeed, you’ve got to go after them because you don’t get chances like this every day. I’m just so proud of my team, the guys, Motorcraft. Quick Lane, Ford.”

Despite the challenges they faced this weekend, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team had their checklist and completed all three tasks this weekend – clinch a spot in the Countdown to 1, move up the points ladder and win.

“As I said from the beginning, we didn’t want to just get into the top 10 because we wanted to solidly be there,” said Tasca. “This win is a tribute to my guys and what they fought through this weekend. We’re leaving Reading with the trophy. We’re leaving Reading sitting fourth in the points and most importantly we’re leaving Reading knowing we’re going to be in this championship run.”

After Saturday’s explosion, Tasca and team tipped their hat to Ford Racing and their safety innovations over the last several years.

“Saturday night’s explosion was the worst I’ve ever been in,” said Tasca. “I’m very fortunate that the safety technology that Ford developed and installed on the race cars worked. The fuel pumps shut off, the parachutes went out and I didn’t get hurt.”

Tasca secured his spot in the Countdown for 1 after defeating Ron Capps in the first round.

Full Throttle Points Standings – Funny Car
1. Tony Pedregon, 1,292; 2. Ron Capps, 1,219; 3. Ashley Force Hood, 1,128; 4. Bob Tasca III, 1008; 5. Jack Beckman, 996; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 982; 7. Del Worsham, 929; 8. John Force, 919; 9. Mike Neff, 872; 10. Cruz Pedregon, 801.

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 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 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 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 www.ford.com.


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MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Pollack
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
313.203.7162 313.434.6912
spollack@pcgcampbell.com
www.twitter.com/MQL_Racing
www.facebook.com/MQLRacing

Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team Clinch Sixth Spot in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Countdown To 1.

DEARBORN, Mich., August 23, 2009 – In March 2009, Bob Tasca III captured his first win with sponsors Motorcraft and Quick Lane. A short five months later, Tasca secured a spot in the 2009 Countdown to 1.

Two years and 42 races after Tasca secured sponsorship with Motorcraft/Quick Lane, he will compete for his first NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship after clinching the sixth spot this weekend in Reading after defeating Ron Capps in the first round.

“Congratulations to Bob and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team on securing a spot in the Countdown to 1,” said Brett Wheatley, Director of Marketing, and Ford Customer Service Division. “Bob and the team have worked extremely hard this year and deserve this spot in the championship run. Bob’s performance both on and off the track has made all of us at Ford proud. We’re looking forward to seeing that Mustang win rounds and, hopefully, the championship over the next few months.”

Tasca and the team were determined to make the Countdown this season. In the first 17 races this season, Tasca earned 19 round wins, his first No. 1 Qualifier and first career Funny Car win.

“Our goal at the start of this program was to win a championship. That’s why we do what we do,” said Tasca. “We dedicated time and resources to compete for the championship and we’ve done what needs to be done to win. Last year, I missed the Countdown by one slot, certainly it was a heartbreaking way to end our first season. To lock in the Countdown in the sixth position speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication that everybody on the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team has put into the program this year.”

The Countdown to 1 begins at the Second Annual NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, NC, the weekend of September 17-20.

“You have to put yourself in the position to win. No one can guarantee a championship. No one can guarantee a win,” said Tasca. “You have to put yourself in the position to win and by locking into the top 10 we’ve done that for Ford, Motorcraft and Quick Lane. We’ve put our team, our sponsors and fans in the position to win and that’s what we intend to do.”

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 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 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 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 www.ford.com.

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Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Team To Start Fifth in Reading

Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Shelby Mustang
Nitro Funny Car class
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

25th Annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals
Maple Grove Raceway August 20-23, 2009
Race 17 of 24

TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING TEAM TO START FIFTH IN READING

READING, PA – August 22, 2009 – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing look forward to Sunday morning after experience two challenging and rain filled days in Reading.

Eager to be back on the track, Tasca’s first run of the weekend was smooth and strong. After Friday’s lone qualifying session, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team sat comfortably in the third position in hopes of improving on Saturday.

In what would be a repeat weather performance of Friday, Funny Cars would take to the track for their single pass of the day. Tasca was confident his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang could improve on Friday’s effort. Tasca reached the 660-foot marker and experienced a blown supercharger.

“We’re still a little unclear with what happened in the second run,” said Tasca.
“We believe it was a valve train failure that caused the massive explosion. It destroyed the supercharger and it knocked a port out of the cylinder head along with the manifold. There was a big flash fire, which did go out. The oil did not catch on fire; it was more of a fuel fire that was in the manifold.”

It would be a long Saturday night and early Sunday morning for Tasca and the team.

"Other than causing a lot of work for this Motorcraft/Quick Lane team, we’ll be ready for tomorrow,” said Tasca. “We’re going to work through the night to make sure our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang is race ready for Sunday.”

Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team will rely on Friday’s 4.138 second run at 299.26 miles per hour to develop Sunday’s race strategy.

“Chris Cunningham, Marc Denner and the guys made a really great call on Friday in the heat,” said Tasca. “I’m disappointed in today, not in the explosion, but we would have liked to have had a second run. This has been a very challenging weekend because we never really had the chance to hit our stride.”

Tasca is seeded fifth and will face Ron Capps in the opening round.

“You race the race, regardless of who is in the next lane,” said Tasca. “We’ve got a formidable competitor in the other lane, but at the same time, he has a formidable competitor. We’re looking forward to going a couple of rounds on Sunday.”

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/

Television
Sunday, August 23: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, August 23: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET).

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 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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Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Team Determined to Make New Memories at Reading

Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Shelby Mustang
Nitro Funny Car class
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series

25th Annual Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals
Maple Grove Raceway August 20-23, 2009
Race 17 of 24

TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING TEAM DETERMINED TO MAKE NEW MEMORIES AT READING

DEARBORN, MI – August 19, 2009 – Bob Tasca III brings the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team with him to a memorable place. Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, PA, was where Tasca climbed into a professional race car for the very first time.

Tasca is quite familiar with Maple Grove Raceway after his runner-up Top Alcohol Funny Car finish in 2006. Three years later, Tasca hopes to mirror that performance but walk away with the trophy.

“Reading is a special place for me and it always will be,” said Tasca. “Reading is the site where I first hit the gas in a my Top Alcohol Funny Car. I’m really excited to get back there.”

Currently in sixth place in the NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car point standings, Tasca and his team are focused on one goal, and one goal only: being a championship contender.

“This is a pivotal point of the season for us,” said Tasca. “We’re not so much trying to make the top 10, but really focusing on positioning ourselves to make a strong run for this championship. I’m thrilled to be in this spot, literally less than two years from when we started this program. I’m feeling pretty good right now.”

Although Tasca considers Englishtown is home track, Reading, is not too far away. Tasca heads to Pennsylvania hoping to recapture the magic he had back at his home track earlier in the season.

“There will be a lot of Rhode Islanders in Reading,” said Tasca. “We did really well in Englishtown getting to the semi-finals. We have our sights set on picking up another win before the Countdown to 1 starts. We’ll definitely have some hometown people at Reading.”

Race Hot to a Mustang Sweepstakes
Enter to win a 2010 Ford Mustang GT equipped with a Ford Racing Performance Parts package and upgrades courtesy of Ford Custom Accessories in the Ford Customer Service Division ‘Race Hot to a Mustang Sweepstakes.’ Enter online until November 23, 2009, at http://www.motorcraft.com/, http://www.quicklane.com/, http://www.racefanoffers.com/ and http://www.bobtasca.com/. The Race Hot Sweepstakes is open to all licensed U.S. citizens over the age of 18.

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.

Reading Race Notes
- Tasca qualified 13th during last year’s event at Brainerd and lost in the second round to Tim Wilkerson.
- Tasca is currently sixth in points heading into the 17th race of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

Tasca Funny Car Achievements
- First round win, defeated Melanie Troxel, February 10, 2008, NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA
- First time in the semi-finals, April 27, 2008, NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta, GA
- First No. 1 qualifier, March 14, 2009, Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL
- First win, March 15, 2009, Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL
- First back-to-back semi-final appearances this season (Englishtown, NJ and Norwalk, OH)
- Tasca has qualified eighth or better in 11 races during the 2009 season

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Notes
- 2009 marks the second year Ford Customer Service Division brands Motorcraft and Quick Lane sponsor Bob Tasca III and Tasca Racing.
- Motorcraft® continues its relationship with NHRA, having sponsored Hall-of-Fame NHRA driver Bob Glidden and drag racing legend Kenny Bernstein, among others, in the late 80s and early 90s.
- Motorcraft® products strike the perfect balance of precision, quality and pricing.
- Manufactured to strict specifications, they install quickly and give the confidence of doing a job right the first time. Motorcraft is the preferred choice of Ford Motor Company.
- Quick Lane Tire® & Auto Centers provide the services your car or truck needs most, performed by factory-trained experts and on your schedule. You’ll never need an appointment and you’ll get service while you wait, even on evenings and weekends. They’ll take care of any make, or model using quality Motorcraft® parts. Give them a try and see why life is better in the Quick Lane®.
- Quick Lane® offers routine maintenance and light repair services, such as oil and filter changes, brake repairs and tire replacement for all makes and models.
- Quick Lane celebrated the opening of its 500th tire and auto center in 2008. Visit http://www.quicklane.com/ to find the Quick Lanes in the greater Reading area.

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/

Television
Saturday, August 23: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 1 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, August 23: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, August 23: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET).

Satellite (Analog feed)
Friday, August 21, 8:30 – 8 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, August 22, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, August 23, 6:30 - 7 p.m. (ET), AMC 15 / Transponder 6K (11820 MHz, horizontal)
Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

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 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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