Bob Tasca III dominated at Heartland Motorsports Park for the second year in a row by taking down points leader Matt Hagan in the final round for the Menards NHRA Nationals. In the final Tasca III delivered a run of 3.885 at 332.26 in the BG3 Ford Mustang – which was both the quickest and fastest run for the Funny Car category this weekend.

The event victory – which came a NHRA’s final race at the facility (after 34 years) – did move Tasca III to fifth in NHRA Camping World Championship points. It was also his second victory in what has been a standout 2023 season.
 
To reach the finals, Tasca got past Blake Alexander, Alexis DeJoria and No. 1 qualifier Robert Hight, posting an identical reaction time and E.T. with Hagan to set up the thrilling final round. Tasca quickly chased down Hagan, making the only Funny Car run in the 3.80s this weekend to clinch his 14th career win.

“It was a hard-fought day and I give all the credit to the guys. Every time we warmed up the car, there was something wrong,” Tasca said. “They just fought through it. The car shut off in the first round, second round, third round, we were struggling with putting cylinders out and having the safety box shut the car off. That run was a monster run (in the finals).
 
“That’s what’s different about this team from any team I’ve been on. I’ve never had the car that could just step up. This team, led by Aaron Brooks and Todd Okuhara, it’s a different attitude than any I’ve been around. We’re one of the quickest qualifying cars year-to-date, hot tracks, cold tracks, anything in between we can go up there and run low E.T. It was a big time run, a statement run for this team. Going into Brainerd and Indy, we’re in the top five. If you have that leaving Indy, you have a really good chance to win the championship. This car can go to any race and win, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been able to say that before.”
 
By going to the finals Hagan stretched his lead to 61 points over defending world champ Ron Capps. Earlier he had beaten Alex Laughlin, Tim Wilkerson and J.R. Todd to reach the final round for the sixth time this season and 85th time in his career.

Funny Car Racing Event Summary – Menards NHRA Nationals

WIN: Bob Tasca III – 3.885 secs 332.26 mph (Career win #14)
R/UP: Matt Hagan – 3.965 secs 329.18 mph
Low ET: Bob Tasca III – 3.885 secs
Top MPH: Bob Tasca III – 332.26 mph
Bump: 4.270
Entries – 17 cars

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of NHRA