On August 13th, 2023, Bob Tasca III celebrated an emotional victory under the lights at Heartland Motorsports Park, winning the 2023 Menards NHRA Nationals. Despite the delays in Sunday’s elimination rounds, Tasca’s triumph in the final edition at Topeka was instantaneous and heartfelt.
“I’ll tell you one thing: It’s an emotional win for me,” Tasca said. “This team has worked so hard all year. Todd Okuhara and Aaron Brooks… I don’t know what to say. They’re incredible guys to race with. For BG, for Ford - so proud. I’m going to the Vegas Ford dealer meeting this week, and I’m bringing all the Ford dealers and fans the trophy.”
Tasca earned his second-consecutive Wally in America’s Heartland, fending off John Force in the 2022 finals. This season, he faced off against the three-seeded Matt Hagan for the Wally. Although Hagan had a quicker reaction time, Tasca clinched the win by eight-hundredths of a second with a 3.885-second pass at 332.26 mph.
Sunday’s elimination rounds faced rain threats, but Tasca’s path to the finals remained clear. As the fourth seed, he defeated Blake Alexander in the first round, marking his first win against him in 2023 and the 14th of his career. In the quarterfinals, Tasca beat 12-seeded Alexis DeJoria, never trailing and crossing the line with a 16-foot gap. The semifinals against top-seeded Robert Hight had a similar outcome, setting the stage for the final showdown with Hagan.
Despite a challenging Western swing, Tasca and his Motorcraft/Quick Lane team had bright moments, with Tasca qualifying No. 3 in Denver, No. 2 in Seattle, and earning his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season in Sonoma. This victory marks Tasca’s second win of the season, adding to his New England Nationals Wally from June.
“On behalf of the entire Motorcraft team, we congratulate Bob on his win in America’s Heartland at Heartland Motorsports Park,” said Fletch Carter, Ford Customer Service Division, U.S. Sales Manager. “Ford and Motorcraft are so proud of Bob as a driver and ambassador on and off the track. His ambition in everything he does for the sport and the automotive industry is incredibly valued by Motorcraft and fans nationwide.”
#NHRA #BobTascaIII #MenardsNats #FunnyCar #DragRacing #FordRacing #Motorcraft #QuickLane #Topeka #Victory
📅 Event Date: August 13, 2023
🏁 Location: Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka, KS
🏆 Result: Bob Tasca III wins Funny Car at 2023 Menards NHRA Nationals.
7 сен 2024
