TASCA TO START FIFTH IN SUNDAY'S KRAGEN O'REILLY NHRA WINTERNATIONALS - THIS MARKS TASCA'S BEST CAREER START

Pomona, CA., February 7, 2009: From the last run of 2008, Motorcraft/Quick Lane driver Bob Tasca could hardly wait to get back to racing. That’s why he spent the last four months preparing for the 2009 season.

Two days of rain delayed the start of the 2009 season, but the skies cleared enough on Saturday afternoon for the Nitro Funny Car class drivers to make a single qualifying run to launch the season.

Piloting the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang, Tasca’s lone qualifying run produced a 4.14 qualifying time, to earn his career best starting position. Tasca is the fifth seed and will face John Force Racing’s Mike Neff in the first round on Sunday.

“We figured we would only have one shot to qualify for the race this weekend. And for us to qualify No. 5 with one shot at the race track is fantastic,” said Tasca. “It’s great to see four Fords in the top five tomorrow.”

“Our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang did exactly what crew chief Chris Cunningham and I wanted it to do in our run. We know where we need to go tomorrow to run quicker. Tomorrow morning, this hot rod needs to run a 4.05 or 4.06 to win this race against Mike Neff. I’m so proud of my Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew. They’ve worked so hard these last few months and we’re ready to race. ”

 Qualifying Order:


1. Robert Hight

2. Del Worsham

3. Ashley Force Hood

4. John Force

5. Bob Tasca

6. Tony Pedregon

7. Gary Densham

8. Jack Beckman

9. Cruz Pedregon

10.Jeff Arend

11.Jim Head

12.Mike Neff

13.Ron Capps

14.Matt Hagan

15.Bob Bode

16.Jerry Tolliver


DNQ – Tim Wilkerson, Terry Haddock