Brownsburg, IN (November 27, 2017) – Bob Tasca III knows it takes a strong team to win a championship and it starts with a strong crew chief. “I’m thrilled to announce Eric Lane as my crew chief. I have known Eric for many years and I have watch him climb up the ranks from an entry level crew guy to a co-crew chief. Over the last two years he went out of his way to help our part-time team achieve amazing results. I told him on many occasions, ‘Imagine if we had real funding – we’d be dangerous together!’ Well, we don’t need to imagine that anymore. Now all we need to do is win!”

Bob also knows that team chemistry is key to winning a championship. “The most experienced teams don’t always win; you need to find the right group of guys that support each other over the course of a season. The teams that win know how to work together and deal with the ups and downs of a long season. Eric is very respected within the sport and is already pulling together a great group of experienced guys.”

Lane knows what it takes to win. “Eric has learned from some of the best of the best in the sport: Austin Coil, Jimmy Prock, and Rahn Tobler – just to name a few. With over 30 wins and two world championships, Eric knows how to win!”

When asked what he’s most excited about for the 2018 season, Lane’s response was, “I am excited to be teaming up with Ford Performance and tuning a Ford Mustang again. I’m looking forward to getting a Ford back into the Winner’s Circle. Having them (Ford) back in NHRA is so huge not only to me personally but our sport as well. I am honored to be a part of this next chapter for not only Ford but for the Tasca Family as well. I am so excited to be working with a family that has been racing for years and has the same values and goals that I do.”

Eric Lane’s Bio:

Born: August 16, 1973

Hometown: San Dimas, CA

Currently Resides: Avon, IN with his wife (Kelly) and daughter (Melaynee)

Eric began his racing career with Gary Densham Racing in 1998 after graduating from Universal Technical Institute (Rancho Cucamonga, CA). He worked with Densham Racing until 2001 when Densham began racing under the John Force Racing organization. Lane then had the opportunity to work and learn from crew chief Jimmy Prock. During this time the team had 8 wins, 6 number one qualifiers, and they doubled up in Indy by winning the race and obtaining a Budweiser Shoot Out victory.

2005: Robert Hight began driving the Auto Club Funny Car with Lane as his car chief.

2009: Lane became Jimmy Prock’s Assistant Crew Chief and won his first NHRA World Championship with Hight and the AAA Funny Car. During his time with the AAA Car (until 2013), Lane and the team won a total of 27 races and a total of 30 number one qualifiers.

2013: Lane joined the Monster Energy Top Fuel dragster (Driver: Brittney Force) as the Assistant Crew Chief with Dean “Guido” Antonelli for Force’s rookie year. Lane helped guide Force to earn the title of Rookie of The Year.

2014: Lane joined Team Don Schumacher Racing with the Napa Funny Car Team (Driver: Ron Capps). He began working side by side with Rahn Tobler as his Assistant Crew Chief.

2016: Lane assisted Capps to his first NHRA World Championship.

2017: Lane assisted the Napa Team to 8 wins and 12 finals. During the four seasons with the Napa Team Lane won a total of 17 races and earned 6 number one qualifiers.