Bob Tasca III Fights Through Tough Conditions to Advance at NHRA Gatornationals

Bob Tasca III showcased exceptional skill and determination at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, advancing to the second round of eliminations despite a mix of challenging track conditions and weather delays. Piloting his PPG Ford Mustang nitro funny car, Tasca battled through an aggressive setup in qualifying and overcame tire smoke in eliminations to secure a spot in the next round. 

Qualifying: A Strong Comeback After a Rough Start 

The first qualifying session (Q1) saw Tasca struggle with an aggressive setup, resulting in a time of 6.423 seconds at 103.7 MPH, placing him 16th in the standings. Reflecting on the run, Tasca remarked, “A little too aggressive attack. Caught me by surprise because all week we've been going up and down this race track running low 0.80s. Great conditions out there, we just overpowered the track. The guys will have to see if there was a malfunction, but the good news is tonight will be the money run.” 

Tasca's crew quickly adjusted, and he responded with a powerful 3.833-second run at 333.82 MPH in the second qualifying session (Q2), propelling him to the 2nd qualifying position. “All right, that was a monster run. Did a lot of driving on that run. Put some holes out. Still ran 3.83 at over 333 mph. What a run for this PPG Ford Mustang nitro funny car. On to Saturday,” Tasca commented enthusiastically. 

However, rain forced the cancellation of the third and fourth qualifying sessions (Q3 and Q4), limiting data collection and making the team's adjustments for race day even more critical. 

Eliminations: Securing a Spot in Round 2 

In the first round of eliminations, Tasca’s experience and skill were on full display. Despite smoking the tires, he managed a 5.161-second run at 209.62 MPH, defeating Austin Prock to move on to the next round. Tasca described the run as a “wild ride” and credited the win to a combination of skill and luck. “That was a wild ride, I tell you. We got this PPG nitro Mustang funny car to the finish line. On a day like today you knew a lot of these wins are going to come from the drivers. We got lucky on that one,” Tasca remarked. 

Tasca will face Alexis DeJoria in the second round, aiming to build on the momentum and overcome the challenging conditions seen at Gainesville. 

Looking Forward 

With a combination of driver skill and quick adjustments from his crew, Bob Tasca III remains a strong contender at the NHRA Gatornationals. The team’s ability to adapt and overcome setbacks has been a testament to their preparation and experience.