{"id":2455,"date":"2009-03-15T20:43:59","date_gmt":"2009-03-16T03:43:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2009-04-06T15:10:47","modified_gmt":"2009-04-06T22:10:47","slug":"bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fbob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F03%2F0911-07981-400x266.jpg&amp;description=Bob+Tasca+gets+his+First+Win+at+Gainsville%21\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\" rel=\"lightbox[2455]\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\" data-text=\"Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!\" data-desc=\"Congratulations Bob! -pikesan BOB TASCA III AND MOTORCRAFT\/QUICK LANE FORD SHELBY MUSTANG WIN AT GAINESVILLE FIRST CAREER NHRA FUNNY CAR WIN FOR TASCA \u00b7 Tasca won Sunday\u2019s 40th Annual NHRA Gatornationals, Funny Car class. \u00b7 Tasca made it to the finals in his 27th NHRA Funny Car race. \u00b7 Best\" data-image=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07981-400x266.jpg\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Congratulations Bob! -pikesan<\/p>\n<p>BOB TASCA III AND MOTORCRAFT\/QUICK LANE FORD SHELBY MUSTANG WIN AT GAINESVILLE<br \/>\nFIRST CAREER NHRA FUNNY CAR WIN FOR TASCA<\/p>\n<p>\u00b7         Tasca won Sunday\u2019s 40th Annual NHRA Gatornationals, Funny Car class.<br \/>\n\u00b7         Tasca made it to the finals in his 27th NHRA Funny Car race.<br \/>\n\u00b7         Best previous finish for Tasca was a loss in the semi-finals to John Force at the 2008 Summit Southern Nationals in Atlanta.<br \/>\n\u00b7         Tasca moves to second in series points, 38 points behind Ron Capps.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-2457\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Bob Tasca III and his Motorcraft\/Quicklane team\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07981-400x266.jpg\" alt=\"Bob Tasca III and his Motorcraft\/Quicklane team\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07981-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07981-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07981-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07981.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Gainesville, FL., March 15, 2009 \u2013 The fastest driver on Friday morning was the last driver standing on Sunday in NHRA Full Throttle Drag Series Funny Car class.  In his first Funny Car finals, Bob Tasca III in the Motorcraft\/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang won Sunday\u2019s 40th Annual Gatornationals.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m speechless,\u201d said Tasca.  \u201cWe qualified our Motorcraft\/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang No. 1, and we beat Tim Wilkerson, John Force and Tony Pedregon to get the first win.  This is just a real tribute to the whole Motorcraft\/Quick Lane program.  To bring the first win home for Ford this year in the NHRA Funny Car class is really special.  It\u2019s a dream come true for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday afternoon, Tasca went round for round with some of the series best en route to his first career win.  In the first round won, Tasca defeated Jim Head.  During the second round, he defeated teammate Tim Wilkerson. Tasca faced his mentor John Force in the third round. In the finals, Tasca defeated friend Tony Pedregon.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-2458\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Bob Tasca III after winning his first Wally in Funny Car\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07668-400x266.jpg\" alt=\"Bob Tasca III after winning his first Wally in Funny Car\" width=\"400\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07668-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07668-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07668-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/03\/0911-07668.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\u201cJohn Force. What can you say? He\u2019s the man. I wouldn\u2019t be here if it wasn\u2019t for John Force. Tony Pedregon is my best friend. Tim Wilkerson coming on board and working with us,\u201d said Tasca. \u201cIt is pretty special to beat those guys and walk away with your first Wally [trophy] and we are leaving here second in the points. That isn\u2019t too shabby.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was 27 months since Bob Tasca hired Chris Cunningham as his crew chief.  The two went to work and 27 races later, they celebrate victory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt all started out with a phone call to Chris Cunningham where I tried to convince him to come work with a guy that had no employees, no parts and it was less than two months from Pomona [2008].  I said, \u2018Chris, trust me. We\u2019ll be great together.\u2019  He\u2019s done a remarkable job with what he\u2019s done and handpicked the guys around us.  I said to him from day one, \u2018Chris, I just want to be in a position to win. I\u2019ll give you all the resources that you need to give me a great race car.\u2019 It started in the spring at Pomona last year and we had our struggles in the first year,\u201d recalled Tasca.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur [2009] season started the day after the fall at Pomona,\u201d continued Tasca.  \u201cWe went to Las Vegas and ran the wheels off this hot rod, then we went to Palm Beach, then we went to Phoenix.  We put a quarter-season on this Shelby Mustang before we even rolled into Pomona for the season opener.  We\u2019re just determined.  You just get a sense when you talk to us that we\u2019re determined to win. I can assure you if we have anything to do about, this isn\u2019t our last trophy.  We have a top caliber program right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tasca is fond of the Florida track, \u201cIt\u2019s real exciting.  That right lane has been awfully good to me; I might even kiss it before I leave.  I set the world record in Alcohol Funny Car and won my first race in that lane.  To win today, in that lane, was a pretty special day for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later in the week, Tasca returns Tasca Ford dealership in Rhode Island.  \u201cMy grandfather\u2019s saying back in the 60s was \u2018Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.\u2019 The dynamic has certainly changed.  Heck, they used to win with the cars you could buy in the showroom and today that\u2019s not the case. At the end of the day \u2018Win on Sunday and sell on Monday\u2019 is what this program is all about. We have just as much emphasis with the off-track initiatives with Motorcraft, Quick Lane and Ford as we do on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>(Pictures courtesy of PCGCampbell)<\/p>\n<p>Race Winners At-A-Glance:<\/p>\n<p>FUNNY CAR: Bob Tasca III, Cranston, RI, Quick Lane\/Motorcraft Shelby Ford, 4.200, 280.72 mph def. Tony Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind., Q Power Chevy Impala, 4.5336, 210.90 mph<br \/>\nTOP FUEL: Larry Dixon, Brownsburg, Ind., 3.898, 311.05 mph def. Cory McClenathan, 4.570, 192.60 mph.<br \/>\nPRO STOCK: Jason Line, Troutman, NC, 6.614, 209.20 def., Allen Johnson, Greeneville, Tenn., 6.607, 209.01 mph.<br \/>\nPRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: Hector Arana, Milltown, Ind., 6.977, 191.40 mph def., Matt Smith, King, NC, 7.133, 185.51 mph.<\/p>\n<p>* * * *<\/p>\n<p>NHRA Full Throttle Points (unofficial standings after three Full Throttle Drag Racing Series National events):<\/p>\n<p>FUNNY CAR &#8211; 1. Ron Capps, 263; 2. Bob Tasca III, 225; 3. Del Worsham, 188; 4. Robert Hight, Auto Club Ford Mustang, 164; 5. Mike Neff, Ford Drive One Mustang, 163; 6. Tony Pedregon, 160; 7. Matt Hagan, 157; 8. Jim Head, 155; 9. John Force, Castrol EDGE Ford Mustang, 146; 10. Ashley Force Hood, Castrol GTX Ford Mustang, 145.<\/p>\n<p>TOP FUEL \u2013 1. Antron Brown, 259; 2. Brandon Bernstein, 239; 3. Larry Dixon, 206; 4. Doug Kalitta, 194; 5. Tony Schumacher, 181; 6. Cory McClenathan, 178; 7. Morgan Lucas, 176; 8. Shawn Langdon, 137; 9. Spencer Massey, 122; 10. Joe Hartley, 95.<\/p>\n<p>PRO STOCK \u2013 1. Jason Line, 285; 2. Allen Johnson, 228; 3. Jeg Coughlin, 223; 4. Greg Anderson, 212; 5. Mike Edwards, 211; 6. Kurt Johnson, 182; 7. Greg Stanfield, 176; 8. Ron Krisher, 134; 9. Jim Yates, 116; 9. Johnny Gray, 116; 11. Rickie Jones, 137.<\/p>\n<p>PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE &#8211; 1. Hector Arana, 117; 2. Matt Smith, 98; 3. Karen Stoffer, 56; 4. Angie McBride, 55; 5. Andrew Hines, 74; 6. Shawn Gann, 72; 7. Craig Treble, 34; 8. Eddie Krawiec, 53; 8. Steve Johnson, 53.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fbob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville%2F&amp;media=&amp;description=Bob+Tasca+gets+his+First+Win+at+Gainsville%21\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bob-tasca-gets-his-first-win-at-gainsville\/\" data-text=\"Bob Tasca gets his First Win at Gainsville!\" data-desc=\"Congratulations Bob! -pikesan BOB TASCA III AND MOTORCRAFT\/QUICK LANE FORD SHELBY MUSTANG WIN AT GAINESVILLE FIRST CAREER NHRA FUNNY CAR WIN FOR TASCA \u00b7 Tasca won Sunday\u2019s 40th Annual NHRA Gatornationals, Funny Car class. \u00b7 Tasca made it to the finals in his 27th NHRA Funny Car race. \u00b7 Best\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Email Congratulations Bob! -pikesan BOB TASCA III AND MOTORCRAFT\/QUICK LANE FORD SHELBY MUSTANG WIN AT GAINESVILLE FIRST CAREER NHRA FUNNY CAR WIN FOR TASCA \u00b7 Tasca won Sunday\u2019s 40th Annual NHRA Gatornationals, Funny Car class. \u00b7 Tasca made it to the finals in his 27th NHRA Funny Car race. \u00b7 Best previous finish for Tasca [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[19],"tags":[540,446,376,286],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2455"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455\/revisions\/2636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}