DROPPED CYLINDER IN SECOND ROUND ENDS DAY FOR TASCA

Pomona, CA., February 10, 2009: Mother Nature finally cooperated with the season opening NHRA Winternationals after five days of rain. Bob Tasca III, driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang was eager to race in the second round elimination that took place on Tuesday morning.

Racing resumed on Tuesday morning and in the final pairing of Nitro Funny Cars, Tasca faced Ron Capps. Within one second of the run, Tasca felt one cylinder drop and steered his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang to the finish line in 4.25 seconds at 264.86 mph.

“Each cylinder in our Motorcraft/Quick Lane Funny Car V-8 engine produces over 400 pounds of thrust. About one second into the run, it dropped a whole cylinder on the left side. I knew it did because when it does that, the thrust isn’t balanced,” said Tasca. “The side of the motor that had all eight cylinders lit, had more force and it was pushing me to the wall. I was going down the track with about a half steering of input. I was turning it as far as I could turn it to keep it as much in the middle of the track as we could.”

“I’m disappointed not to win the race, but that’s why we come out here – to win. Crew Chief Chris Cunningham, assistant crew chief Marc Denner and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang team did a great job. Why these things put cylinders out, it’s hard to determine. We haven’t had this issue all weekend and it happened against us here in the quarterfinals. We’ll look at the data, make the adjustments and move onto Phoenix.”

Tasca leaves Pomona seventh in points. Ron Capps went on to win the 49th Annual Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals

In Saturday’s lone qualifying session, Tasca ran 4.14 seconds at 301.20 mph. During Sunday’s first elimination rounds, Tasca beat fellow Ford driver Mike Neff with a time of 4.12 seconds at 302.89 mph.

Current Nitro Funny Car Points:

1. Ron Capps – 2. Jim Head – 3. Robert Hight – 4. Gary Densham – 5. Del Worsham – 6. Ashley Force Hood – 7. Bob Tasca III – 8. Jack Beckman – 9. John Force – 10. Tony Pedregon