A pair of unexpected winners in the top two classes made for a particularly memorable 40th annual AC Delco NHRA Gatornationals drag races, as rookie Bob Tasca III won his first Funny Car match, defeating a much more experienced Tony Pedregon.
McClenathan beat Lagana in the semifinals. Tasca, a third-generation Ford dealer in Rhode Island, won his first race in the Alcohol Funny Car series at Gainesville in 2007 and set a speed record here, so he’s more than familiar with the track.
Bob Tasca raced to his first career Funny Car victory at the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals.
“If I could have picked a place to win my first Funny Car race, this is an awfully good one,” he said. “This is a special place, and it’s one of the largest crowds in the country.”
“I’m speechless,” Tasca said. “It’s one of those weekends where you qualify No. 1 and then have to beat John Force and Tony Pedregon to get your first win. It’s a big accomplishment and just a credit to this Motorcraft team.
“If you’ve got to pick a place to win your first race, I couldn’t think of a better place to do it.”
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