Someone might be piloting a late season run for a championship in Funny Car!
Bob Tasca has been telling anyone who’d listen that his team is a legit contender for the Camping World Funny Car title and at this point, it’s almost impossible to doubt him. Appearing in the final for the fifth time in six races, Tasca delivered a knockout blow in the final with a 3.945 to easily cover Capps’ respectable 4.007. Tasca now has a 19-3 record in elimination rounds since the Norwalk round two months ago.
“I’ve said this many times but what we’ve done [lately] is amazing,” said Tasca. “We’ve not backed into any win and performed at a high level throughout this [win streak]. This is incredible execution by the team, and I mean every single person. This team has to performed flawlessly. The package we have is a breath that is unlike anything I’ve ever had in my driving career. Hot or cold, whatever, they always have an answer and when that happens, as a driver you just have to go out and do your job.
“This track was difficult for me,” said Tasca “All weekend, I was fighting the car down track. It was spinning and moving around. If you let it get out of the groove and it will spin tires. Keeping it in the center of the groove is absolutely critical, especially today. I’m so proud of what we’ve done today. Before the final, I sat in the trailer with Mike and looked at the data and he said, ‘You know, there is a lot more I can do here. That’s how he is. He’s always thinking about how we can be better. We have a lot of unfinished business ahead of us. We’re all chasing the same trophy at the end of the year.”
Like everyone else in Funny Car, Tasca’s team was also forced to adapt to rapidly-changing track conditions but crew chiefs Mike Neff and John Shafer were head and shoulders above the rest of the field with four-straight runs in the threes including a 3.891 in their opening round win over Dale Creasy Jr., who kept the Motorcraft team honest with a career-best 3.967. Tasca also earned wins against Chad Green and points leader Robert Hight, who struck the tires in his Auto Club Camaro.
Capps, has been relatively quiet since his most recent win in Bristol but the NAPA Toyota team, led by Dean Antonelli and John Medlen, might just be peaking at the right time with the Dodge Power Brokers U.S. Nationals and the Countdown to the Champoinship playoffs right around the corner. Capps won just one round on the Western Swing and earned a quarterfinal finish in Topeka, but Brainerd was a different story as he scored wins against John Force, Bobby Bode, and Alexis DeJoria to make his fourth final of the season.
See a full recap from Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor:
Unofficial Camping World points standings:
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Sunday Photo Gallery:
Content: NHRA.com / Kevin McKenna, NHRA National Dragster Senior Editor
Photo: Bob Tasca III Social / NHRA
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