Sun, 20 Sep 2009, 09:46 PM Dropped Cylinder in Second Round Ends Day for Tasca in Charlotte

Courtesy of Susan Pollack

CONCORD, N.C. -- Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team had high hopes for the weekend after celebrating their race shop grand opening and unveiling their JDRF-designed race car in Concord, NC earlier in the week.

During Friday's opening sessions, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team hosted Liam Flanagan and family of Williamstown, New Jersey. Flanagan, age 8, was the 2009 winner of the Ford Customer Service Division's Funny Car Design contest. Tasca raced in a "Stars and Stripes - 'Take a Walk in Our Shoes'" paint scheme during the NHRA Carolina Nationals.

"On behalf of the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team, many thanks to Liam Flanagan for designing our Mustang this weekend," said Tasca. "We had a great time with Liam and his family and we look forward to seeing them at a race again soon."

Once on track activity began, the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team was focused on winning rounds and improving their position in the series standings en route their first NHRA Full Throttle Championship title.

Tasca qualified in the 11th position with his best pass of 4.128 seconds at 302.41 miles per hour. He would face Ron Capps in the first round eliminations.

In his first pair, Tasca was first off the line against and led the entire race as Capps smoked the tires at the 400-foot marker.

During his second pass of the day, Tasca had a quicker reaction time but was passed at the 60-foot marker when the Mustang dropped a cylinder during the run against fellow Mustang racer Robert Hight.

"Our second round was obviously disappointing, especially because we know our Mustang could have won today," said Tasca. "We put a hole out just past one second and when it does that in these types of conditions you have so much extra load on the remainder of cylinders that we burned up one of the pistons next to the cylinder that dropped. Once that burns the piston out, it pressurizes the crank case and oil was spraying all over me and the rear tires."

Tasca slid to fifth in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series point standings but is 36 points behind leader Tony Pedregon.

"We're still in a position to win this championship and you're not going to win a championship in one race. We did a lot better some other teams, but as not as good as we wanted. We are looking forward racing in Dallas next weekend."

Robert Hight won the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Concord, NC.

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