-
Tasca to the Task – Again! Jul 30, 2024 // NHRA Event FC Results // editorFor Funny Car class racing at the NHRA’s 36th Denso Sonoma Nationals event — nobody could track down speedy Bob Tasca III all weekend.
That reality continued all the way thought the final round, with Tasca racing to his second Sonoma win in three years by taking down Ron Capps with a 4.088 at 277.15 in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang. It’s also the third win of the year for Tasca, who remained second points, and he did it in incredible fashion.
Tasca qualified No. 1 with a 338-mph run, added a weekend-best run of 338.77 in the opening round against Buddy Hull and then drove past Paul Lee and points leader Austin Prock to reach the final round. The semifinals against Prock was a thriller, as Tasca won on a holeshot with an .022 reaction time, sending him to the final round where he held on to the win against Capps. It was another rewarding moment for Tasca, who now has 18 career wins as he gets into championship form.
“It’s so hard to win these things and that’s a testament to my crew, to Todd Okuhara and Aaron Brooks,” Tasca said. “They pulled it back and still ran 337 mph. I was a bit surprised in the final. It was pulling great and then it knocked the tires off. You have no idea how that feels. I looked out the side window because I expected him to come by me. Fortunately, I got it to recover.
“I thought if we could get the car to run like it ran in Q4 we could beat him and I said that to Todd. I said, ‘Let’s run as quick as we can and if he beats us, I’ll be the first to congratulate him.’”Capps advanced to the finals for the second time in three races and the 149th time in his career by getting round wins against Cruz Pedregon, defending event winner J.R. Todd and reigning world champion Matt Hagan.
Saturday’s racing schedule at Sonoma included the Mission #Fast2Tasty Challenge specialty event which saw Funny Car points leader Austin Prock win for the fifth straight time.
Driving the JFR/Cornwall Tools Chevy Camaro, Prock defeated Blake Alexander in the final: 3.897 secs 332.10 mph to Alexander’s 3.936, 292.20 mph. Prock had defeated JR Todd in round on of that bonus race.
Driving for Jim Dunn Racing –Buddy Hull qualified on the bump — recording a career best speed of 319.60 mph Sonoma Nationals Funny Car Class Summary
WIN: Bob Tasca III – 4.088 secs 277.15 mph (Career win #18)
R/UP: Ron Capps – 4.729 secs 175.59 mph
Low ET: Bob Tasca III – 3.839 secs
Top MPH: Bob Tasca III – 338.77 mph
Bump: 4.081
Entries – 18 carsPosted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of NHRA – Auto Imagery & Krista Zivic
Comments are closed.