The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
36°F
Current Conditions
Fog
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Bob Tasca races to first Funny Car victory in nearly 7 years

Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III celebrates his win in the final race at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., Sunday, June 16, 2019. (David Crigger / Associated Press)
Associated Press
Funny Car driver Bob Tasca III celebrates his win in the final race at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn., Sunday, June 16, 2019. (David Crigger / Associated Press)

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Bob Tasca III raced to his first Funny Car victory in nearly seven years, beating 70-year-old John Force on Sunday in the final round of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway.

Tasca won for the fifth time and first in 100 races, denying Force his 150th career victory with a 4.008-second pass at 316.23 mph in a Ford Mustang.

“It was just a hard-fought effort,” Tasca said. “I knew it would be a slugfest against Force, but I love racing John. It was probably one of the biggest wins in my career. We had to build this car from scratch, but the chemistry on this team is good and I’ve never had a race car like this. It’s fast and the guys just put me in a position to win.”

Mike Salinas won in Top Fuel for his second victory of the year. He beat Steve Torrence with a 3.836 at 325.69 to end the defending series champion’s five-race winning streak.