Tasca Racing

FordParts.com Returns as Primary Sponsor as Tasca Looks to Kick Off 2010 Countdown with Win at Indianapolis.

spollack — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:59:31 +0000

DEARBORN, MI – September 1, 2010 – Earlier this summer, Bob Tasca III found on-track success when he switched to the blue and white colors of the online retailer FordParts.com and won the 41st Annual NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown.

Now, heading into the biggest event of the season and the kickoff to the Countdown to 1 playoffs, Tasca and the FordParts.com team look to duplicate the success from Englishtown and apply it to Indianapolis.

“Indianapolis is already the biggest race of the year for NHRA, and it takes on a whole new meaning when it’s the first race of the Countdown,” said Tasca. “We want to come out of the box strong, get this Countdown started off right, and win.”

Success at Indianapolis is not new to Tasca. In 2006 and 2007, while piloting an Alcohol Funny Car, Tasca earned two runner-up finishes at the historical track.

“Indianapolis is such a prestigious race,” said Tasca. “I love racing at Indianapolis; it’s just a great atmosphere, a great place to race. There is so much history at Indianapolis and I’m looking to be a part of it. We made it to the finals before in the Alcohol Funny Car and I think we can take our FordParts.com all the way to the finals again this weekend.”

FordParts.com returns to Tasca’s racing machine this weekend as primary sponsor, replacing the familiar black-and-red of Motorcraft. Tasca first donned the blue and white paint scheme at Englishtown as part of the nationwide launch of the on-line website, and went on to earn his third career win.

“I’m really excited to keep pace, and I’m not a superstitious person, but I may become one if we win again,” said Tasca. “We tested in Chicago and debuted the FordParts.com car the following week in Englishtown and won. We tested last week in Indy and we’re bringing the FordParts.com Shelby Mustang back out. If we can get that same magic that rubbed off in Englishtown in Indianapolis, they may have to arm wrestle me to take the body back off my Mustang. It will be fun to have the blue and white car out and show it off in Indianapolis. Hopefully, it brings us the same success it did in Englishtown.”

As the 2010 season slowly draws to an end, Tasca analyzes each race on its own merit. He, along with crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Marc Denner, know that every point matters going forward. Sitting just 70 points back from the leader as the playoffs begin, the FordParts.com team will review data from the season and continue to build on the strides they’ve made to date.

“You fight all year, and it really is a battle to get into the top 10 by the end of the regular season,” said Tasca. “You want to put yourself in a position to win, to be solidly in the top 10, which we were very fortunate to do, but now that’s over. Now we’re looking forward. The Countdown makes the final races a 10-car shootout for a championship, so we’re truly taking this one round at a time. You’ve got to look specifically at each round… each qualifying round, and each elimination round. We’re going into these final six races taking them one round at a time.”

Last week, Tasca tested at Indianapolis and posted the quickest ET of the two-day test session. Tasca’s best time of the test session was a 4.077 second run at 309.84 miles per hour. With the solid test session under their belt, Tasca and the team are confident in the Shelby Mustang this weekend.

“We’ve established a tremendous hot weather tune-up over the last couple years and we are refining the Ford BOSS 500 set-up,” said Tasca. “To have a race car coming off this test session where we ran low ET in optimal conditions, we are very confident heading into the Indianapolis weekend.”

Shop Shape-Up Sweepstakes
Register for a chance to win Ford-authorized tools and equipment from Rotunda. Two grand prizes will be awarded in the “Shop Shape-Up” Sweepstakes, with prizes valued at $25,000 and $5,000. Enter daily at www.FordParts.com to increase the chances to win.

Mustang 5.0 Fever Sweepstakes
Enter to win an all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT equipped with Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Custom Accessories as part of Ford Customer Service Division’s “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes. Bold and powerful, the all-new 5.0-liter V-8 Mustang uses advanced technology to deliver 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lb. of torque and class-leading highway mileage of 26 mpg. Enter online until November 23, 2010, at www.racefanoffers.com, www.quicklane.com and www.fordparts.com. The “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes is open to all licensed U.S. citizens over the age of 18.

Register for both Shop Shape-Up and Mustang 5.0 Fever Sweepstakes at FordParts.com
Enter to win both the “Shop Shape-Up” and the “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes with a single registration at FordParts.com. To be eligible to win both sweepstakes, entrants must register on www.FordParts.com between August 7, and November 23, 2010.

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Experience
The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Experience interactive consumer display returns to Nitro Alley in Indianapolis. Fans can enter to win prizes and participate in the Motorcraft Holeshot Challenge and Quick Lane Challenge. A myriad of activities are planned for fans during the weekend, including Q & A and autograph appearances at the display by Ford Funny Car and Pro Stock drivers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Experience Hours of Operation
Friday, September 3: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 4: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 5: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Monday, September 6: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Points
1. John Force, 2110; 2. Robert Hight, 2080; 3. Jack Beckman, 2070; 4. Matt Hagan, 2060; 5. Ron Capps, 2050; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 2040; 7. Bob Tasca III, 2030; 8. Ashley Force Hood, 2020; 9. Del Worsham, 2010; 10. Tony Pedregon, 2000

Indianapolis Race Notes
-During last year’s Indianapolis race, Tasca qualified eighth and lost to Robert Hight in the second round.

Tasca Funny Car Achievements – 2010
- Defeated Del Worsham to win 41st Annual NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, NJ.
- 13 top-eight qualifiers (Pomona – 4th, Gainesville – 7th, Las Vegas – 8th, St. Louis – 7th, Atlanta – 4th, Joliet – 4th, Englishtown – 7th, Bristol – 7th, Norwalk – 7th, Seattle – 6th, Sonoma – 5th, Denver – 7th and Brainerd – 4th)
- Five semi-final appearances (Pomona, St. Louis, Atlanta, Bristol and Sonoma)
- One runner-up finish (Gainesville)
- 2010 round record: 21 wins and 16 losses
- Tasca is seventh in series points, 70 points behind the leader
- Tasca and the FordParts.com team won the Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award in Englishtown
- Tasca secured his spot in the 2010 NHRA Countdown to 1 after qualifying for the Denver race

Tasca Funny Car Achievements – Career
- First round win: Defeated Melanie Troxel, Feb. 10, 2008 (NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA)
- First semi-final appearance: April 27, 2008 (NHRA Southern Nationals, Atlanta, GA)
- First No. 1 qualifier: March 14, 2009 (Gatornationals, Gainesville, FL)
- Three career wins: Two in 2009 – Gatornationals in Gainesville, FL and Toyo Tires Nationals in Reading, PA. One in 2010 – NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, NJ.
- Finished eighth in series points in 2009
- Career round record: 55 wins and 60 losses

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

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Notes
- 2010 marks the third 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’s nationwide network will surpass 600 facilities in 2010. Visit www.quicklane.com to find one of the Quick Lanes in the greater Indianapolis area.

Television
Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at 10 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA Race Day, at 11 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying coverage at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, Sept. 5, ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 5 p.m. (ET).
Monday, Sept. 6, ESPN2 HD will televise five hours of eliminations coverage at 1 p.m. (ET).

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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FordParts.com Returns as Sponsor for Wood Brothers’ NASCAR Fusion and Tasca Racing NHRA Mustang During Labor Day Weekend Races

spollack — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:24:57 +0000

• FordParts.com returns as the sponsor of two, high-profile Ford racing cars in NASCAR and NHRA on Labor Day weekend.

• Bob Tasca III to pilot the FordParts.com Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car at the NHRA U.S. Nationals race at O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, IN

• Bill Elliott will race the No. 21 FordParts.com Ford Fusion during the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA

• FordParts.com introduces the “Shop Shape-Up Sweepstakes” where entrants could win up to $25,000 in Ford authorized shop tools and equipment.

DEARBORN, Mich., August 31, 2010 – For the second time this season, Wood Brothers Racing and Tasca Racing will switch from their familiar red-and-white Motorcraft schemes to the blue-and-white colors of FordParts.com. Tasca and the Wood Brothers are bringing the FordParts.com liveries to compete in their respective NHRA and NASCAR races over the Labor Day Weekend, September 3-6.

Launched in June, FordParts.com allows repair shops, body shops, fleets, and do-it-yourselfers to order Genuine Ford and Motorcraft® parts online. Once a part is ordered, consumers have the flexibility of choosing in-store pick-up or having the parts delivered to their home or shop. FordParts.com takes the guesswork out of ordering with VIN-search look up for over 280,000 parts and more than 22,000 detailed technical diagrams of parts and assemblies.

FordParts.com recently launched a national sweepstakes to coincide with the special paint schemes during the 2010 season. In the “Double Up Sweepstakes,” entrants could win up to $25,000 in Ford authorized shop tools and equipment through the “Shop Shape-Up” Sweepstakes, or win a 2011 Mustang GT through the “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes. To enter, visit www.FordParts.com.

Earlier this summer, Bill Elliott raced his No. 21 FordParts.com Ford Fusion during the Michigan International Speedway race in mid-June. Elliott qualified 29th and finished the NASCAR event in the 28th position.

Bob Tasca III ran his FordParts.com Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car at Old Bridge Township Raceway in Englishtown, New Jersey that same weekend. Tasca qualified seventh and won the race, marking his third career win and the first win for the online retailer.

The matching schemes will once again be seen in person by nearly 150,000 fans at Atlanta Motor Speedway and O’Reilly Raceway Park, as well as millions more on ESPN and ESPN2, providing FordParts.com with a huge national audience to generate awareness of the new website.

Since the launch of FordParts.com site in June, changes have been made to enhance the convenience of shopping for parts online. Elements that were added include:
• Interactive “Ask Your Dealer a Question” assistance
• “Customers who bought this part also bought” information
• Express Checkout

“We’re proud of the success the FordParts.com has shown over the last three months,” said Brett Wheatley, Director of Marketing, Ford Customer Service Division. “Since June, when we first launched the site and raced the paint scheme in NHRA and NASCAR, more than 50,000 parts have been ordered. We’ve met and exceeded the goals we set for FordParts.com and are continuously improving the site for our customers.”

Every part available on FordParts.com is recommended by Ford Motor Company and features the trusted Genuine Parts or Motorcraft brand name. From air-conditioning compressors to wire sets – it’s the right fit for any Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle.

Shop Shape-Up Sweepstakes
Register for a chance to win Ford-authorized tools and equipment from Rotunda. Two grand prizes will be awarded in the “Shop Shape-Up” Sweepstakes, with prizes valued at $25,000 and $5,000. Enter daily at www.FordParts.com to increase the chances to win.

Mustang 5.0 Fever Sweepstakes
Enter to win an all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT equipped with Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Custom Accessories as part of Ford Customer Service Division’s “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes. Bold and powerful, the all-new 5.0-liter V-8 Mustang uses advanced technology to deliver 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lb. of torque and class-leading highway mileage of 26 mpg. Enter online until November 23, 2010, at www.racefanoffers.com, www.quicklane.com and www.fordparts.com. The “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes is open to all licensed U.S. citizens over the age of 18.

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.

Podcast- Off to Indy!

btasca — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:41:57 +0000

Weekly Podcast

Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car to Visit Montreal and Ford Racing Crescent Street Festival

spollack — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:20:22 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich., August 27, 2010 – Bob Tasca III, driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Funny Car, heads north for the weekend for the annual Ford Racing Crescent Street Festival sponsored by Ford of Canada, on Friday and Saturday, August 27 and 28.

“This is my first venture to Montreal for the Ford Racing Crescent Street Festival and I’m looking forward to it,” said Tasca. “I’ve been told that this is one of the largest street festivals of the year and I’m glad to be part of it. I’m looking forward to meeting all of the Ford fans in Canada and showing them my Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car.”

Held in Montreal’s entertainment district, race fans will have the opportunity to meet Bob Tasca III and get a close-up look at his 8,000 horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang. Tasca will be at the Festival on Friday from 5-9 pm, then on Saturday from 2-4 pm, 5-7 pm and 8-10 pm.

Now in its sixth year, the Ford Racing Crescent Street Festival takes place in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, one of series’ three road course races. The annual street festival has a variety of Ford Racing properties, including show cars representing all forms of racing, from NASCAR to NHRA.

Festival goers can test their skills as a pit crew member by attempting the Pit Crew Challenge – where they will change the tire of a NASCAR race car. Or take part in the Crew Chief Challenge by racing against others to connect spark plug wires and attach an oil filter.

The Ford Racing Crescent Street Festival is free and runs from Thursday, August 26 to Saturday, August 29, from 11am to 11pm.

For more information, visit http://www.crescentmontreal.com/

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 FordParts.com
FordParts.com allows customers to shop online, order and receive original equipment parts, connect to a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealership of their choice for the parts expertise, personal delivery assistance, and post-sale follow-up associated with a traditional purchase at a parts counter. FordParts.com is designed to support anyone who needs to find and buy original equipment Ford parts. Repair shops, body shops, fleets and do-it-yourselfers will appreciate the speed and convenience of researching and purchasing Ford parts via this online portal, and the flexibility of choosing in-store pick-up or having the parts delivered. For more information, visit www.fordparts.com.

Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing and Tasca Racing at Ford Racing Crescent Street Festival

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Podcast-The End of the Regular Season!

btasca — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:32:53 +0000

Podcast-The End of the Regular Season!

Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Exit Brainerd in Second Round

spollack — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:44:44 +0000

BRAINERD, MN – August 15, 2010 – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team had two close races on Sunday in Brainerd. After a victory in the first round, Tasca was just a few inches short in the second round and lost on a holeshot.

Tasca entered Sunday’s eliminations as the fourth qualifier and faced John Force in the first round. In a tight battle of the Ford Mustangs, Tasca’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang was the quickest at the 1,000-foot marker. Tasca posted a 4.15 second run at 298.07 miles per hour compared to Force’s 4.164 second run at 291.13 miles per hour. Tasca’s margin of victory was 0.0023 seconds, approximately 12 inches.

“It was a great race against John Force in the first round,” said Tasca. “We came up on the right side of that match, except we lost the engine.”

In the second round, Tasca faced Bob Bode. In another close side-by-side race to the finish line, Tasca was defeated by Bode on a holeshot. Tasca posted a 4.128 second pass at 296.31 miles per hour versus Bode’s 4.14 second pass at 299.20 miles per hour. Bode’s margin of victory over Tasca was 0.0085 seconds, approximately four feet.

“We were looking for a big run and broke a lifter at half track,” said Tasca. “Our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang still ran good enough to win but Bode was just a little bit better at the line. We were running on seven cylinders and did some serious damage to the engine against Bode. We beat John in the first round and we’ll hold on to the seventh spot in the Countdown.”

The series takes a two week break before the final six races of the season. NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing returns to the track on September 3 in Indianapolis for the US Nationals.

“This was not the way we wanted to end the regular season, but I’m glad it happened now,” said Tasca. “We need to get these close losses out of the way before Indianapolis. We have a couple of weeks before we race in Indy; I’m looking forward to getting there and making a run for the championship.”

Bob Bode won Sunday’s 29th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Points
1. John Force, 1250; 2. Robert Hight, 1249; 3. Jack Beckman, 1155; 4. Matt Hagan, 1136; 5. Ron Capps, 1048; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 1035; 7. Bob Tasca III, 1016; 8. Ashley Force Hood, 984; 9. Del Worsham, 929; 10. Tony Pedregon, 764

Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Qualify Fourth at Brainerd

spollack — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:12:06 +0000

DEARBORN, MI – August 14, 2010 – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team started the final race of the regular season with a solid qualifying effort for Sunday’s elimination rounds at Brainerd International Raceway.

Rain altered Friday’s schedule and forced the cancellation of one of the qualifying sessions. During Friday’s lone qualifying run, Tasca and the team posted the 10th quickest time with a 4.208 second pass at 293.28 miles per hour.

As he approached the third and final qualifying pass, Tasca was in the 13th position. Determined to qualify in the top half of the field, Tasca drove his Motorcraft/Quick Lane down the track in 4.138 seconds at 302.35 miles per hour. Tasca posted the top speed of the final qualifying session and was second quickest ET. Tasca and the team locked into the fourth qualifying spot after the final qualifying session.

“The last run was the run that we were looking for,” said Tasca. “We lost a run on Friday due to rain and we were just a little bit soft on the tune up. On Saturday morning, we had a little bit too much in it and smoked the tires. Crew Chiefs Chris Cunningham and Marc Denner settled in and found the right combination going into that last session. We made a big run with a great speed and ET. We have some great data going into Sunday’s eliminations.”

As the fourth qualifier, Tasca will face fellow Ford Mustang racer John Force in the first round.

“I don’t like racing against another Ford in the first round, but every win that I’ve gotten in my career, at some point or another, we’ve had to race against John Force,” said Tasca. “It will be a good drag race. Hopefully, we can put our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang in the winner’s circle on Sunday afternoon.”

Tasca and the team seek to end the regular season with a strong finish. Currently in the seventh position in points, Tasca looks improve his ranking in the Funny Car ladder.

“This is the end of the regular season and for our team it is about moving up,” said Tasca. “We want to end the regular season on a high note and get some momentum going into Indianapolis.”

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Brainerd Qualifying Order
1. Ashley Force Hood; 2. Matt Hagan; 3. Robert Hight; 4. Bob Tasca III; 5. Cruz Pedregon; 6. Jack Beckman; 7. Ron Capps; 8. Jeff Arend; 9. Tim Wilkerson; 10. Jim Head; 11. Del Worsham; 12. Bob Bode; 13. John Force; 14. Tony Pedregon; 15. Dale Creasy Jr.; 16. Paul Lee.

Television
Saturday, August 14, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 11 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, August 15, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA Race Day, at 10 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, August 15, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise final eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET).

Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Use Brainerd to Launch Countdown Momentum

spollack — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:00:09 +0000

DEARBORN, MI – August 10, 2010 – Fresh off a two-week break, Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team are eager to get back to racing this weekend in Brainerd, Minn., looking to gain momentum for the Countdown to 1 playoffs that begin in Indianapolis later this month.

“Even though we’re locked into the Countdown, we still have some work that needs to be done this weekend in Brainerd,” said Tasca. “We have our sights set on finishing the regular season in the fourth or fifth spot in the standings, which are both within our reach. Once the points reset and the Countdown begins, you can win from any spot.”

Tasca has an even record at Brainerd, with two round wins and two round losses, and would like to pilot his red and black Mustang a full four rounds at this weekend’s event. Even though the start of the Countdown is a short two weeks away, Tasca knows that success this weekend can only build into solid performances in the coming weeks. In addition to his performance, Tasca is eager to watch his fellow competitors both at the top and bottom of the ladder.

“Clearly, we’d like to go into the Countdown with some momentum and that is what we’re focused on this weekend,” said Tasca. “It will be interesting to watch John Force and Robert Hight battle for the top spot. We’ll also be watching Tony Pedregon and Jeff Arend battle for the final spot – that should be an exciting story. There is a lot of stuff happening this weekend and it’s great to be in the thick of it.”

Although Tasca and the Shelby Mustang are secure in the Countdown to 1 playoffs, Tasca is not taking Brainerd lightly. Determined to improve his position on the ladder, Tasca and crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Marc Denner will not use Brainerd as a testing platform.

“Our testing needs to be focused on cool conditions and we won’t see those [conditions] this weekend,” said Tasca. “We’re going to be in race mode. We’ll be focused on testing as we get into the Countdown; it will probably be after the Charlotte or Reading races where we can work on the cool weather tune-up. It’s going to be a six-race shootout, and you’ve got to win at least two of them to get yourself in a place to win this championship going into Pomona.”

In addition to getting back into his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang, Tasca is eager to get back to Brainerd and the NHRA fans.

“I’m excited to get back to racing,” said Tasca. “It’s also great to see the fans get all fired up about an event. That’s what motivates us and makes all our hard work worthwhile – to get out to the track with the fans and the other racers and compete. I think it will be a pretty exciting close to the regular season.”

Mustang 5.0 Fever Sweepstakes
Enter to win an all-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT equipped with Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Custom Accessories as part of Ford Customer Service Division’s “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes. Bold and powerful, the all-new 5.0-liter V-8 Mustang uses advanced technology to deliver 412 horsepower, 390 ft-lb. of torque and class-leading highway mileage of 26 mpg. Enter online until November 23, 2010, at www.racefanoffers.com, www.quicklane.com and www.fordparts.com. The “Mustang 5.0 Fever” Sweepstakes is open to all licensed U.S. citizens over the age of 18.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Points
1. John Force, 1219; 2. Robert Hight, 1191; 3. Matt Hagan, 1076; 4. Jack Beckman, 1060; 5. Ron Capps, 1014; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 963; 7. Bob Tasca III, 959; 8. Ashley Force Hood, 938; 9. Del Worsham, 897; 10. Tony Pedregon, 733

Brainerd Race Notes
-During last year’s Brainerd race, Tasca qualified seventh and lost to Ron Capps in the second round.

Tasca Funny Car Achievements – 2010
- Defeated Del Worsham to win 41st Annual NHRA SuperNationals in Englishtown, NJ.
- 12 top-eight qualifiers (Pomona – 4th, Gainesville – 7th, Las Vegas – 8th, St. Louis – 7th, Atlanta – 4th, Joliet – 4th, Englishtown – 7th, Bristol – 7th, Norwalk – 7th, Seattle – 6th, Sonoma – 5th and Denver – 7th)
- Five semi-final appearances (Pomona, St. Louis, Atlanta, Bristol and Sonoma)
- One runner-up finish (Gainesville)
- 2010 round record: 20 wins and 15 losses
- Tasca is seventh in series points, 260 points behind the leader
- Tasca and the FordParts.com team won the Full Throttle Hard-Working Crew Award in Englishtown
- Tasca secured his spot in the 2010 NHRA Countdown to 1 after qualifying for the Denver race

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PodCast- Back from the West Coast Swing!

btasca — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:18:27 +0000

Back from the West Coast Swing

Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Team Exit Denver in Second Round

spollack — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:18:32 +0000

DENVER, CO – July 25, 2010 – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team looked forward to the challenge of Denver and had three things they wanted to accomplish to close the West Coast Swing.

Of the items on their checklist, Tasca and the team achieved two of those goals – run well in Denver and secure a spot in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series 2010 Countdown to 1. The third goal – win on the West Coast Swing ended in the second round.

Tasca continued his streak of top-eight qualifying efforts this weekend. Tasca qualified his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang in the top half of the field for 12 of the 16 races this season. Tasca’s best Denver run of 4.240 seconds at 293.86 miles per hour would lock him in the seventh qualifying position.

For the fourth time this season, Tasca would face alliance teammate Tim Wilkerson in the first round. Looking to have a different result from the previous two meetings, Tasca posted a clean 4.285 second pass at 294.37 miles an hour which defeated Wilkerson’s 5.241 second run at 145.99 miles per hour. Wilkerson appeared to have lost traction at the 400 foot marker while Tasca sailed through to the finish line.

In the second round, it was another battle of the Ford Mustangs as Tasca faced John Force. In a side-by-side race to the end, Tasca’s Mustang was leading until the final few feet. Tasca ran a 4.292 second pass at 291.32 miles per hour to Force’s 4.280 second pass at 293.66 miles per hour. Force’s margin of victory was 0.0033 seconds, approximately 17 inches.

“It is hard to believe that it [losing the round by inches] could happen again,” said Tasca. “It was a tremendous race against John. Our increments were almost identical going all the way down the race track and he beat us by inches. Close racing like that is what makes this sport so exciting and that’s what the fans come to see. The field is so competitive and we just ended up on the short side of the stick two races in a row.”

Despite the second round loss, Tasca will compete for the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car Championship for the second consecutive year. Tasca solidified his position in the playoffs after the final qualifying session in Denver.

“Our short term goal was to get into the top 10 – mission accomplished,” said Tasca. “Our long term goal is to win the championship and I’ve never been more confident going into the Countdown than I am right now with the team and race car that we have. We’ve really put ourselves in a position to fight for wins and this championship.”

Tasca gives credit to the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team and crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Marc Denner for their extra efforts in Denver and the 2010 season to date.

“I’m proud of Chris, Marc and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team for making the right calls this weekend and all season,” said Tasca. “This Ford BOSS 500 engine is a new program for us, especially going to a condition that we haven’t seen all season and won’t see again until next year. They had the Mustang dialed in for every run this weekend. This is an exciting time for the team. I know Chris, Marc and the guys are really pumped up about the Countdown. Thanks to my crew for their hard work and giving me a Mustang that ran strong all weekend.”

Robert Hight defeated John Force in the finals to win Sunday’s 31st Annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver, Colorado.

“Congratulations to John Force and Robert Hight for making Denver an all Ford final,” said Tasca. “It has been a tremendous season for Ford. All the Ford teams have the same goal and that is to win the Funny Car championship. The five of us have put ourselves in a position to do that, which is 50 percent of the field, but the other 50 percent of the field that wants to win it as bad as we do.”

The series returns to competition on August 13 for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minnesota.

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Points
1. John Force, 1219; 2. Robert Hight, 1191; 3. Matt Hagan, 1076; 4. Jack Beckman, 1060; 5. Ron Capps, 104; 6. Tim Wilkerson, 963; 7. Bob Tasca III, 959; 8. Ashley Force Hood, 938; 9. Del Worsham, 897; 10. Tony Pedregon, 733

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 Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 176,000 employees and about 80 plants worldwide, the company’s brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, 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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