The cool and rainy weather at Route 66 Raceway this weekend changed the strategy of the
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team. Although they were expecting warmer temperatures and their
second win the season, Tasca and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane felt confident racing on the drag strip
just south of Chicago.
Over the last few weeks, Tasca, crew chief Chris Cunningham and the entire Motorcraft/Quick Lane
team worked on their cool weather tune-up. That hard work and dedication paid rewards this weekend.
"This was a great weekend from the standpoint that we had cool conditions all weekend," said Tasca.
"We have a hot rod that has performed well in the heat and had issues on cool tracks. Certainly,
our performance this weekend was pretty incredible and the conditions were right."
On Saturday afternoon, Tasca raced his way into the seventh qualifying position. He piloted his
Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang to a 4.122 second run at 301.33 miles per hour.
After storms delayed racing on Sunday, Tasca was eager to race against first round opponent Bob
Bode. In the first meeting of the drivers, Tasca defeated Bode and advanced to the second round
against Ashley Force Hood.
"We ran that 4.09, in the first round and that was one of the quickest runs I've ever had in a race
car," said Tasca. "It was almost 265 miles per hour at half track and over 303 [mph] at 1000 feet.
That is data we can work with in the next round and other races this season."
In the second round, Tasca fell short against race runner-up Ashley Force Hood.
"I'm disappointed in the second round because we had a 4.09 second set-up," said Tasca. "The
balance between the clutch and the motor were not in harmony. The hot rod told us it didn't like
the balance and the Shelby Mustang didn't run as good as it did in the first round. Unfortunately,
it's not what we wanted, but that's how we learn. She had the low ET of the round and that was the
second time that this is happened to us against Ashley Force Hood. They have a great car and team
over there. But we also have a great team and a great Mustang over here."
Tasca will take what he learned in Chicago and apply it to Englishtown next weekend. But before he
steps back into the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Shelby Mustang, Tasca will spend time in New York and
Dearborn, Michigan.
"This is an exciting week for us coming up," said Tasca. "We're going to the New York Stock
Exchange with NHRA on Wednesday to ring the opening bell. Then on Thursday, all the NHRA and
NASCAR drivers and owners are going to the Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn. We're going to
meet a lot of the employees and test drive some of the new products."
Tony Pedregon defeated Ashley Force Hood in the final round to win the United Association Route 66
NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
