NHRA Gators, Tasca and Dixon Score “Firsts”
Monday, March 16th, 2009By: Drew Hierwarter
If you’ve been a fan of NHRA drag racing as long I have you probably remember those amazing Tasca Fords of the mid-sixties. The 427 powered Fairlane Thunderbolt of 1964 was followed by the A/FX Mustang. That car evolved into an altered wheelbase Mustang and eventually into the long wheelbase version at the beginnings of the funny car class. Tasca Ford was the center of high performance for New England fans of the blue oval in those days and that tradition was revived in Gainsville, Florida over the weekend.
Bob Tasca III, drove his Ford Mustang funny car to his first ever number one qualifying spot at the NHRA Gatornationals. Then during Sunday’s eliminations he advanced to his first ever final round appearance after he defeated Jim Head, Tim Wikerson, and his mentor John Force, before he faced Tony Pedregon in the final.
“Tony is my best friend – I was the best man at his wedding – and I can’t tell you what he means to me, ” said Tasca. “Our families are going to Disney World tomorrow – my wife is his wife’s best friend, too – and he hugged me before the final and said, ‘B, either way, we’re going to Disney tomorrow, but if you win, you’re buying dinner.’ [After the final], he gave me a big hug. I know he was so proud to see me achieve this win, and I know he wanted to win as bad as I did, but I know he was real happy for me.”
“To qualify No. 1 and beat Tim Wilkerson, John Force, and Tony Pedregon to win your first race, it’s just awesome. It’s a tribute to the whole program. Today is a culmination of 27 races, and we’ve had our struggles as a team, including me as a driver. We’re just determined to do well, and I can assure you that this won’t be our last trophy. We have a championship-caliber program.”
There was another “first” over in Top Fuel as Larry Dixon got the first win for his new team, the Al-Enabe/Alan Johnson Racing team. Dixon also qualified number one and then proceeded to defeat Doug Kalitta, Morgan Lucas, and Brandon Bernstein before facing Cory McClenathan in the final. The “Gators” is one race that Cory Mac has never won and in fact, he had never reached the final round in Gainesville before. But a traction plagued 4.57 ET was no match for Dixon’s 3.89 at 311 mph.
“It’s hard to win these races, especially with a brand-new team,” said Dixon, “I know how hard it is to make these cars go down the track, but they make it look easy. It’s an amazing group. Alan Johnson is a genius, and Jason McCulloch is working right underneath him, and I’m happy for him to get his first win. I’m also happy for sheik [team co-owner Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Thani] and to be able to get his first win the third race out. I’m honored to be driving the car.”
Dixon has now won the Gatornationals four times, the last time in 2002, although he also reached the final round in 2005 and again in 2007.
In the season debut for the Pro Stock Motorcycle division, 19 year veteran rider, Hector Arana, scored only the second win of his long career. (His first coming just last season in Norwalk, Ohio.) Arana rode his Lucas Oil sponsored Buell past low qualifier, Matt Smith, in the final round, 6.97, 191.40 to 7.13, 185.51, after Smith’s bike faltered on the top end.
In Pro Stock, Jason Line scored the 17th win of his career when he defeated Alan Johnson by a fender, 6.614, 209.20, to Johnson’s 6.607, 209.01.