Tasca Starts Motorcraft Mustang On Frontstretch At Jeff Byrd 500

BRISTOL, March, 22, 2011: A kaleidoscope of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew members huddled on the pit wall, waiting to see Bob Tasca III’s Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car unleash the horsepower of 10 stock cars combined. He may as well have been in the pits of an NHRA National event with fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder at the ropes, waiting to hear the bang of the throttle.

For Tasca, starting his car on the frontstretch during the pre-race ceremonies for the Jeff Byrd 500 will be the best memory from a weekend packed with moments for the highlight reel.

“It was great to bring a taste of NHRA to Bristol,” Tasca said. “The entire NASCAR community gave our team a warm welcome. It was a lot of fun to see the look on some people’s faces when we hit the throttle. Can’t wait to come back to Bristol for our race.”

Instead of signing autographs at the ropes of his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing pit, Tasca signed autographs at the popular Ford display in the midway. Then he jumped in the Mustang pace car with NASCAR pace car driver Brett Bodine – a former NASCAR Sprint Cup driver who drove for Motorcraft in 1989 – at the wheel for a trip around the world’s fastest half-mile.

“Riding in the Mustang pace car around a track like Bristol gave me a whole new perspective of what a NASCAR driver does,” Tasca said.

Then he put on a headset and watched from the Wood Brothers’ war wagon as Trevor Bayne, driver of the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion, competed in his hometown race.

After starting in the No. 19 position behind an all-Ford front row, Bayne navigated some on-track skirmishes at the track famous for them to finish 34th. Like all true drivers, this year’s Daytona 500 winner would love to check out the world’s fastest motorsport – but he’d like to do it solo.

“I don’t know if I’d want to get out there with another car on the track, but I’d love to see how fast they go,” Bayne said. “I’d love to get up on the line and go for it, but I don’t know if I’d want to be out there beside another one.”

It won’t be long until Bob Tasca III returns to Bristol, Tenn. for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers. The stars of the NHRA Full Throttle Series return to Bristol Dragway Fathers Day Weekend, June 17-19, 2011.

Tickets are available now, at 1-866-415-4158 or online at Ticketmaster.com.