9. GAINESVILLE’S NEW KING OF SPEED – Bob Tasca III didn’t quite make a 340 mph run in Gainesville like he did in Bradenton, but he was still faster than anyone in the nitro classes.
Tasca’s 337.75 in Friday’s second session tied Brittany Force’s 2022 run to the thousandth. His 3.829 elapsed time stood on top for exactly one pair of cars. He was relegated to second place on the list.
“It doesn’t get any better than his,” Tasca said. “We are dropping 3.82s like crazy out here.”
It marked the second time that Tasca had stolen the spotlight with speed and and ended up second.
Tasca went through the speed traps at the PRO Super Star Shootout to become drag racing’s king of speed.
“We wanted to make sure we could get it, and the boys got it,” Tasca said. “We set the car up for speed, and the speed gods gave us speed. Amazing run, one for the ages. First ever over 340. Never forget that one.
Tasca’s 3.840 elapsed time placed him second in qualifying.
The top spot was taken by Austin Prock, who was the epitome of frustration in testing. But as he learned a long time ago, it’s not how one starts but the finish that counts.
“The speed’s cool and all, and everybody likes to go fast, but grabbing that number one qualifier definitely is special,” Prock said. “So if we can get ours to mile an hour it’s Tasca’s, they’ll really be in trouble.”
10. SMITH BY PROXY – Newly transitioned nitrous racer Mike Thielen jumped to the front of the qualifying list during the second session, running a 5.688 252.10 252.10.
Thielen, a former supercharged racer, is running a nitrous combination and has hired Rickie Smith as his tuner.
This weekend’s Pro Modified action includes the FTI Pro Mod Showdown, introduced last year at the historic event. The FTI Pro Mod Showdown will include the driver putting together the best E.T. average throughout the weekend’s four qualifying rounds. The winner will receive $7,500 from FTI Performance, adding another big incentive for the standout racers competing this weekend in Gainesville.
“FTI Performance and NHRA Pro Mod racing go hand-in-hand,” said Krista Baldwin, Director of Marketing of the Wharton Automotive Group. “What better way to celebrate that relationship than with the FTI Pro Mod Showdown. FTI Performance owner and Funny Car racer Paul Lee will present the winning check to the winner, and we are super excited to get to Gainesville “and get the 2024 NHRA season underway.”
