Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Reach Semi-Finals at 50th Annual NHRA Winternationals

Pomona, CA., February 14, 2010 – On the golden anniversary of the NHRA Winternationals, Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang team hoped to go four rounds and earn their third career win.  The team’s chances for victory ended with a semi-final loss to Ron Capps.

Piloting his new 2010 Shelby Mustang body, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team had a trying weekend up until the final qualifying session on Saturday afternoon.  Sitting on the bump spot, Tasca ran low ET of the round with a 4.075-second pass at 306.88 miles per hour. 

Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang were confident heading into Sunday’s elimination rounds.  Tasca had two solid first rounds of competition and defeated Melanie Troxel and Matt Hagan.  

Tasca met Capps in the semi-finals and smoked the tires right off the line.

“We made a mistake; it was an oversight,” said Tasca.  “Chris [Cunningham, crew chief] wanted to put a set of scuffed tires on the Shelby Mustang because the track was still hot.  We didn’t want to put a new set on, so we rolled a set out that we had.  They were the tires from the Pomona race in November. They were old rubber and did not react the way we expected.  The car should not have done what it did.”

Despite not walking away with the win, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team will leave Pomona in third position heading into Phoenix next weekend. 

“We can take a step back and see that we’ve come a long way in the off season,” said Tasca.  “We came out here and did well.  I’ve got a big smile on my face and the team has big smile on their faces.  We’ll roll into Phoenix with similar conditions, so there is no reason why we can’t win Phoenix.”

John Force won the 50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals.

“Congratulations to John Force and his entire team.  It is fitting that he won the 50th NHRA Winternationals,” said Tasca.  “Obviously if I can’t win, I’d love to see another Ford win.  John is the hero of the sport; he’s been my hero growing up in drag racing.  I’m happy to see him get the season started off with a win.”

NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Points
1. John Force, 121; 2. Ron Capps, 94; 3. Bob Tasca III; 78; 4. Jack Beckman, 74; 5. Del Worsham, 59; 6. Matt Hagan, 57; 7. Ashley Force Hood, 56; 8. Cruz Pedregon, 51; 9. Robert Hight, 43; 10t. Tony Pedregon and Jim Head, 33.

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TASCA TO START FOURTH IN SUNDAY’S 50TH ANNUAL NHRA WINTERNATIONALS

Pomona, CA., Feb 13, 2010 – Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang team saved their best run for last during Saturday’s final qualifying session at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

After three rounds of qualifying Tasca found himself sitting in the 16th position.  In his final qualifying attempt, Tasca wowed the crowd with an impressive session-best pass of 4.075 seconds at 306.88 miles per hour.  Tasca’s run catapulted him from 16th to fourth overall. 

“Chris Cunningham made a few changes and did what he thought was the right decision,” said Tasca. “I said a little prayer to my grandfather, ‘Pop, if there’s a time that I need you, it is on this run.’ And that’s the quickest run I’ve ever been on.”

As the team owner and driver, Tasca credits the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team for their efforts in giving him a solid and competitive Shelby Mustang Funny Car.
 
“What a tribute to all the hard work that my guys have put in,” said Tasca.  “To run low ET of the round, move into the fourth qualifying position, clearly shows that we’re in this deal to win.”

As the fourth seed, Tasca will face Melanie Troxel in the first round on Sunday.  Tasca and Troxel have met two previous times and Tasca won both matches. 

“I’m looking forward to Sunday,” said Tasca. “I raced Melanie in 2008 in my very first race earned my first, first round win. Hopefully this will be my first round win of 2010.”

Tasca is eager to make his way through the ladder on Sunday, but will take the day one round at a time.

“You’ve got to go up there and not take anything for grated,” continued Tasca.  “My guys have smiles on their faces right now after that qualifying effort.  We know that when you do it once, you can do it again.  I’m happy about that and looking forward to first round.”

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Tasca and Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing Team Eager to Return to Pomona for 50th Running of the NHRA Winternationals

Bob Tasca III
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Shelby Mustang
Nitro Funny Car class
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series
 
50th Annual Kragen O’Reilly NHRA Winternationals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Pomona, CA
February 11-14, 2010
Race 1 of 23

TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING TEAM EAGER TO RETURN TO POMONA FOR 50TH RUNNING OF THE WINTERNATIONALS

February in Pomona marks the start of a new season – new goals and aspirations for the coming months.  For Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team, Pomona marks the start of a new season, but the continuation of a solid 2009 season.

“I’m looking forward to getting this season started,” said Tasca.  “Every element of our program, from our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team, to our Shelby Mustang Funny Car, my confidence level and determination level as a driver – I’m in the best position that I’ve been in at the start of the season.” 

This weekend marks the 50th running of the NHRA Winternationals and Tasca’s third appearance at the February event.  Tasca is eager to capture his first win of the season at the famous track in southern California especially on this momentous weekend.

“They say a win is a win, but that’s never really the case,” said Tasca.  “There’s something special about the first race of the year, being in Pomona, having the snow-capped mountains in the background, and it’s one of those races where you really want to do well in and leave with the trophy. Since this weekend is the 50th Winternationals at Pomona, I would love to win.”

The same Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team that earned two race wins, one runner-up finish, 26 round wins and a place in the 2009 Countdown to 1, will return for the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season. 

“One of the things I’m looking forward to the most heading into my third season is that the entire team is back together again,” said Tasca.  “There’s nothing that gives a driver more confidence than believing in the people that you have around you. Having my entire team together gives me a lot of confidence going into this season.”

Tasca and the crew are eager to get back to the track intact, with one minor change.  The red and black Mustang car number has changed from 1777 to the number eight – Tasca’s finishing position from the 2009 season.

“That 1777 number meant a lot to me, but it’s time to make a change,” said Tasca. “We’re changing the number on our Mustang to the number eight on the car, which is something I’m very proud of in my second season for the program. I’m proud that we were able to finish number eighth in the points.  We’ll wear it proudly, but we want to subtract seven digits from that this year so it gives us something to shoot for this season.”

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TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING EXIT POMONA IN FIRST ROUND; FINISH EIGHTH IN SERIES STANDINGS

POMONA, CA – November 15, 2009 – A first round loss brought an early end to the weekend and the 2009 season for Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team.

After four qualifying sessions, Tasca piloted his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang to the 12^th qualifying position with his best lap of 4.142 seconds at 300.13 miles per hour.  Tasca would face Ron Capps in the Sunday’s first round eliminations.

Tasca was first off the line and lost traction around the 600-foot marker.  Capps also lost traction at the 600-foot mark but was able to pedal his car, take the lead and cross the finish line about one car length ahead of Tasca.  Capps’ margin of victory was 0.07 seconds.

“Clearly not the outcome we wanted today and for our season,” said Tasca. “We were hoping to go a few rounds and move up on the ladder but we fell a little short in the first round against Capps.”

In his second NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season, Tasca finished eighth in the series championship.  This season Tasca won two races, earned his first No. 1 Qualifier and a season record of 26 round wins and 21 round losses.

“It was an exciting year for our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team,” said Tasca.  “I’m proud of Chris Cunningham, Marc Denner and all my guys and all that they accomplished this season.  I’m proud of Motorcraft/Quick Lane and the activation we’ve done on and off the race track. Our sponsorship gives us a great sense of accomplishment as a program even though we didn’t win the championship.”

“We made the Countdown, we won two races and we ended the year in eighth, so that is a major improvement from last year.  You always want go in and win, particularly in Pomona and the last race of the year. So, we’re going to take the good with us, leave the bad behind and focus on 2010.  I’m more excited about 2010 right now and it hasn’t even started yet.” 

Late last season, Tasca and Tim Wilkerson formed a technical alliance.  Both drivers ended the 2009 season with two wins each and in the top-10 in series standings.

“Our teammate, Tim Wilkerson, did really well today by reaching the semi-finals. So we’re proud of Tim and his entire team for finishing fourth in the series standings.” 

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TASCA AND MOTORCRAFT/QUICK LANE RACING TEAM LOOKING TO MAKE AND CHANGE HISTORY IN POMONA

DEARBORN, MI – November 10, 2009 – Heading into the final race of the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season, Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team seek to end their season on a high note and capture their third career win.

“Heading into Pomona, it’s where it all starts and it’s where it all ends,” said Tasca.  “I told my guys that to make this season just perfect I only want one more win.”

In both February Pomona races, Tasca has advanced to the second round.  Last season in November, Tasca was eliminated in round one, so Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team are looking to going several rounds at the historic track.

“From the historical value of it, Pomona is clearly one of the tracks that you look forward to going to,” said Tasca.  “It certainly isn’t the longest race track on the circuit, so stopping becomes even more important. Pomona is nostalgic; it’s where it all started with Wally Parks.  Winning and ending the season on a win is all we’re focused on this weekend.  We have a little unfinished business in Pomona and we look forward to closing the season out with a win.”

After Las Vegas, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team’s chances of the 2009 championship ended with a first round loss.  Despite not competing for the championship in the final race, Tasca is proud of the team’s accomplishments this season.

“Our championship hopes may have expired, but I’m thrilled with what we’ve accomplished in our second year,” said Tasca. “I’m so proud of all the hard work that Chris Cunningham, Marc Denner and the guys have done with this Shelby Mustang to put our team in a position to win.”

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