Strong Qualifying, Tough Sunday: Tasca Battles in 2025 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals

Bob Tasca III and his Tasca Racing team rolled into the 2025 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex with confidence, and for good reason. The Motorcraft Quick Lane Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car came out swinging on Friday, firing off a 3.932 ET at 332 mph to grab the provisional No. 1 spot in Q1 and set the tone for what looked like a promising weekend. 

Crew chiefs Todd Okuhara and Aaron Brooks had the Mustang dialed in early, giving Tasca one of the quickest cars of the opening session. “Todd and Aaron did a great job,” Tasca said after the run. “We wanted to make a strong baseline pass in Q1 so we could take a big swing in Q2 under the lights and put on a show for the fans.” 

The team did exactly that in Q2, but the Mustang dropped a cylinder right at the step, pulling hard toward the wall. Tasca fought it but was eventually forced to lift early, coasting to a 4.17 at 242 mph and sliding back to the No. 8 spot by the end of Friday’s sessions. 

Saturday's qualifying proved to be a rollercoaster. In Q3, Tasca overpowered the track and lost traction before the 330-foot mark. The team regrouped and came back strong in Q4, laying down a smooth, full pull at 3.983 seconds and 326.63 mph, the third-quickest run of the session. The rebound effort secured Tasca the No. 8 qualifying position heading into Sunday's eliminations. 

Race day in Texas brought a tough Round 1 matchup against Spencer Hyde. Tasca left first, taking the lead off the line, but the Mustang smoked the tires early in the run. Hyde also encountered traction issues, turning the round into a pedal-fest. Unfortunately for Tasca, the car’s onboard safety system activated, shutting down the engine and denying Tasca’s chance to recover, ending his day prematurely. Hyde took the win light with a 4.291 at 244 mph to Tasca’s 4.466 at 205 mph. 

Next up, the Tasca Racing team heads west for the 2025 NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 30^th. With just two events remaining in the Countdown to the Championship, every run matters as Tasca Racing looks to close the season on a high note. The team will carry the speed and data gained in Texas into Las Vegas, aiming to turn their qualifying strength into race-day momentum under the desert lights.