Funny Car owner-driver Bob Tasca III, stung hard by the news in July 2013 that Ford would be leaving the NHRA's professional ranks at the close of this season, said then he would not discuss publicly his plans until this year played out.

And he's sticking to that policy, first because he wants to be a man of his word and second because he has nothing to announce yet.

Funny Car owner-driver Bob Tasca III, stung hard by the news in July 2013 that Ford would be leaving the NHRA's professional ranks at the close of this season, said then he would not discuss publicly his plans until this year played out.

And he's sticking to that policy, first because he wants to be a man of his word and second because he has nothing to announce yet.

During the weekend at the NHRA Toyota Nationals, Tasca reiterated, "We're not going to make any announcements until the end of the year." And while he spoke optimistically, the Vice-President of Tasca Ford, one of New England’s largest Ford dealerships, and owner-operator of two Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center franchises indicated he's not on the verge of closing any deals.

"We're working on a lot of good stuff, having a lot of meetings at SEMA," Tasca said of the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association trade event that wraps ups Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. "Hopefully we can pull something together, but we're not going to be making any formal announcements until after the season. We're not in the position to make any announcements at this point."

Because the Tasca Automotive Group is associated with seven manufacturers in addition to Ford (among them Dodge and Chrysler), speculation has been that perhaps Tasca might make a break from the automaker with which his family has been synonymous for 60 years. Tasca simply grinned, paused, and said, "I can't make any announcements until the end of the season. I'm going to finish this year out, give Ford the best race I can give them. Then we'll come back and say what we're going to say."

He didn't hint that he was abandoning Ford. To the contrary, he spoke highly of the Ford Motor Company, although he stood by his challenge to the automaker's decision no longer to fund his racing operation or Tim Wilkerson's or John Force's.

He said his plan is to race in 2015.

"That's our goal," Tasca said. "There's nothing 100 percent right now. But we'll see 'Tasca' around here in some form or fashion next year."

Tasca, a four-time winner in the Funny Car ranks, stepped up in 2008 from the Top Alcohol Funny Car class and owns licenses, as well, in Pro Stock and Super Comp.
He said he's not planning to race in 2015 in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class. "No-no-no-no-no," he said, not in a snobbish manner but just to clarify.

"We're sorting through a lot of different options," he said last weekend. "We don’t have anything definitive that I will say right now that we can announce today. Got a lot of meetings next week at SEMA, and we'll see how it all shakes out."

Unveiled Wednesday at the SEMA Show was Ford's "King Cobra," a special 2015 Mustang GT built exclusively with Ford Racing performance parts that's equipped with Ford Racing's Drag Pack, Handling Pack, and Super Pack supercharger kit. It's designed to be a high-performance street-and-dragstrip car.

While many fans have expressed an interest in seeing a competitive Ford in the Pro Stock category, Tasca ruled out the chance he might drive a Pro Stock car.

"I'm going to be honest with you," he said. "I don’t disagree at all with Ford's strategy on Pro Stock. Their strategy from the very beginning is to create the modern-day Pro Stock car with the Cobra Jet. That's what they feel the future of Pro Stock is. I think the other manufacturers would get behind it in a bigger way, and I think Ford would have gotten behind Pro Stock in a bigger way, had NHRA and the racers embraced that new generation of Pro Stock. That didn’t happen. And Ford was not in a position to commit resources to that technology.

"I'm not saying it’s good or bad. They wanted to invest resources in THEIR technology," Tasca said. "So I don’t necessarily disagree with Ford's direction on that. I think they really wished the Cobra Jet and the COPO and those programs came together better and ultimately created the new Pro Stock class. So that's kind of my two cents on that."
Besides, he said, "My Uncle Carl [Tasca] drives the fastest Cobra Jet in the country. It runs 7.50s at 185 mph with a Ford engine in it. So that's a great story and a great showcase of Ford's engine technology. But there's no initiative to make it a pro class. Oh well."      
   
Tasca said he's still hoping to be able to return to the Funny Car class with the same presence he has enjoyed for the past seven years.

"I love the sport. I love the fans. It really has been part of our family's DNA since the '60s. So for us not to be out here in some form or fashion next year, obviously I'd be very disappointed about it," he said. "The fans are always asking and pulling for us. Definitely our goal is to be out here and represent them, even if Ford doesn’t want to be out here."

While he strongly disagreed with Ford's drag-racing decision, he was nothing but flattering toward the Dearborn, Mich.-headquarter auto giant.

"Obviously, they've been great supporters of ours. I've been very vocal that I don’t agree with their decision" Tasca said. "I think they've really underestimated the value of the NHRA fan. But it's their decision. And I respect it.

"And time will tell," he said. "It comes down to market share, and it comes down to people buying their products. If they notice that the NHRA fan stops supporting Ford, then they'll change their attitude. If they sell just as many cars out here not being out here, then they made a real good decision: they saved a lot of marketing money and everybody keeps buying from them. The only true way to tell of their decision is over time. I personally feel that the NHRA fan is upset about it. I really do, just based on my feedback and what I've heard.

"But Ford is an amazing company. I know that there's a lot of people within Ford who love and believe in drag racing. But it was the executives' decision to do what they did, and they have their reasons for it. I totally respect them. Time will ultimately tell," Tasca said.

He made it clear he understands the judgment was a business-driven one.

"They've been great to me and my family. I don't want to make it personal. I've told people many times, 'I've loved Ford before I went racing. I've loved them when I went racing. And I'm going to love them after I race.' Really, it's just business. It's just how business is," Tasca said. "We're working hard to maintain Tasca out here, and how that all shakes out we're not 100-percent sure at this time."

He's certain of one thing, he'll fly the Shelby Ford Mustang and QuickLane and Motorcraft banner for at least one more race. He'll help end the NHRA season at next weekend's 50th edition of the Finals at Pomona, Calif.
 

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