NHRA Funny Car - Tasca Loses By A Nose

Joliet, July 11, 2011: Driving down Route 66 Raceway in an NHRA Full Throttle Series Funny Car on Sunday felt a little like ice skating. In a sauna…in a snowsuit.

It was more than hot – the truly scorching temperatures tested the resolve and stamina of the world’s fastest motorsport’s best drivers. Bob Tasca III handled the taxing elements easily, cruising to the second round on a hole-shot win – unfortunately, over ‘One Ford’ teammate and hometown favorite Tim Wilkerson. And then came round two and another Ford opponent.

It was Mike Neff, the No. 1 qualifier, and the first time Tasca has faced two ‘One Ford’ teammates in a row since Denver 2010, with the exception of the 4-Wide NHRA Nationals in Charlotte.

Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang team missed advancing to the semifinals by a mere 8-thousandths of a second, clocking a 4.234-second pass at 294.11 mph to Neff’s 4.223 at 295.08, despite Tasca’s slight advantage in the starting line.

“It’s just good to have our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang back from last year in the heat, when we face some of the most challenging conditions in the summer,” Tasca said. “Our car went to the semifinals and arguably had the chance to win a lot of races last year (in the heat). Today, to compete the way we did under hands-down the most difficult conditions of the year, I’m real proud of the guys. I’m real proud of (Crew Chief) Chris Cunningham and (Co-Crew Chief) Marc Denner. Even the turn-around time. We were the last pair up in that first session and the guys did a tremendous job in turning the car around.

“Truthfully, what can you say? Wire-to-wire race. The two best cars had to race in the second round. That’s the bottom line. Hats off to Mike and his team. They’re on a run right now, but you can’t knock that Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang. We were right there alongside of him. Unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”