BangShift.com TASCA AND ASHLEY PICK UP WINS AT NHRA NEW ENGLAND NATIONALS IN BRISTOL

BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 10, 2023) – Bob Tasca III powered to his first win of the season on Saturday at Bristol Dragway, knocking off legendary Humorous Automotive driver John Drive within the last spherical of the NHRA New England Nationals, which was accomplished as a part of a doubleheader weekend in Bristol.

Prime Gasoline’s Justin Ashley additionally claimed the victory on the seventh of 21 races through the 2023 NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection season. The profitable runs from Tasca and Ashley additionally gave every driver a victory within the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Problem bonus race.

On account of climate, eliminations from the Epping, N.H. race have been postponed to this weekend as a part of the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, with Tasca incomes the victory at what is taken into account his dwelling race. Within the championship spherical towards Drive, Tasca went 4.032-seconds at 322.96 mph in his 11,000-horsepower PPG Ford Mustang. It’s Tasca’s first victory of the season and thirteenth of his profession

Tasca knocked off Ron Capps within the opening spherical of eliminations, which came about on Friday in Thunder Valley, after which recorded three spherical wins on Saturday, together with victories over Robert Hight and No. 1 qualifier Chad Inexperienced to succeed in the ultimate spherical. Tasca, who knocked off Drive in a last spherical at Sonoma final yr, rapidly chased down the 16-time world champion, choosing up the win and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Problem victory within the course of. However to win his dwelling race – even when it got here in Bristol – meant an excellent deal to Tasca

“I’d have gone to Alaska to get this trophy. It’s a win that I’ve all the time dreamed about profitable at a racetrack I grew up at,” Tasca mentioned. “It’s the primary observe I ever went down. However we simply felt like this complete season was constructing for us. I’m simply so impressed with Todd Okuhara, Aaron Brooks, and the crew.

“I went as much as Drive earlier than I received within the automobile and I mentioned, ‘Drive, I wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for you.’ To race John Drive within the finals, at his age to do what he does out right here, it’ll by no means be carried out by anyone. I’ve a lot respect for John. There’s nobody I stand up for like that. If I’ve to win a race within the last spherical and have John Drive alongside me for the New England Nationals trophy, it’s going to be a very long time earlier than I overlook that win.”

Drive reached the finals for the primary time this season and 265th due to spherical wins towards Tim Wilkerson, Alex Laughlin and J.R. Todd.

Prime Gasoline’s Ashley loved a terrific day on Saturday in Bristol, racing to his third victory this season and third win within the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Problem as effectively, knocking off Tony Schumacher on a holeshot in an exhilarating last spherical. Ashley went 3.846 at 324.12 in his 11,000-horsepower Phillips Join/Toyota dragster to carry off Schumacher’s 3.835 at 323.65 on the power of a .041 response time.

It’s additionally Ashley’s eighth profession win and provides him one other memorable second in Thunder Valley after he gained the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals a yr in the past. He doubled up on Saturday, going by a formidable array of challengers that included reigning world champion Brittany Drive, four-time world champ Steve Torrence and eight-time champion Schumacher. He’s the one multi-time winner in Prime Gasoline this season and within the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Problem, and Ashley could have an opportunity for a clear sweep of the weekend on Sunday.

“That is so particular. Each race is particular, when you understand you go into the weekend having a possibility to win, however coming right here and realizing now we have three alternatives to win after which caring for two of them already simply makes it so vital,” Ashley mentioned. “It’s only a testomony to the group now we have. Now we have our work minimize out for us tomorrow, however for tonight, we’re going to get pleasure from this one.

“It comes right down to the work we put in through the low season. We knew the competitors was going to step up. The fellows did what they wanted to do, discovered methods to enhance, methods to get higher. That consistency was actually the results of the work that was put within the low season.”

Schumacher superior to his first last this season and 157th in his profession due to victories over Shawn Langdon and Mike Salinas.

Eliminations for the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals start at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday at Bristol Dragway.

***

BRSTOL, Tenn. — Remaining end order (1-16) on the tenth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 21 occasions within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection.

TOP FUEL:

1. Justin Ashley; 2. Tony Schumacher; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Mike Salinas; 5. Leah Pruett; 6. Brittany Drive; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Dan Mercier; 10. Austin Prock; 11. Shawn Langdon; 12. Clay Millican; 13. Josh Hart.

FUNNY CAR:

1. Bob Tasca III; 2. John Drive; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Chad Inexperienced; 5. Matt Hagan; 6. Alex Laughlin; 7. Robert Hight; 8. Ron Capps; 9. Alexis DeJoria; 10. Tim Wilkerson; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Terry Haddock; 13. Blake Alexander; 14. Jim Campbell.

BRSTOL, Tenn. — Saturday’s last outcomes from the tenth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway. The race is the seventh of 21 within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection:

Prime Gasoline — Justin Ashley, 3.846 seconds, 324.12 mph def. Tony Schumacher, 3.835 seconds, 323.66 mph.

Humorous Automotive — Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 4.032, 322.96 def. John Drive, Chevy Camaro, 4.085, 320.51.

BRSTOL, Tenn. — Remaining round-by-round outcomes from the tenth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the seventh of 21 occasions within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Steve Torrence, 3.753, 329.10 def. Austin Prock, 3.787, 326.08; Antron Brown, 12.919, 78.93 was unopposed; Brittany Drive, 3.747, 334.48 def. Josh Hart, 4.201, 202.85; Tony Schumacher, 3.797, 323.58 def. Shawn Langdon, 3.846, 316.82; Leah Pruett, 3.745, 322.42 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.764, 319.22; Justin Ashley, 3.755, 327.74 def. Dan Mercier, 3.768, 317.72; Mike Salinas, 3.762, 327.35 def. Clay Millican, 3.888, 271.79;

QUARTERFINALS — Ashley, 4.097, 255.92 def. Drive, 4.322, 274.05; Torrence, 3.897, 321.81 def. Brown, 4.442, 197.65; Schumacher, 4.487, 178.50 was unopposed; Salinas, 3.848, 322.58 def. Pruett, 3.894, 298.47;

SEMIFINALS — Ashley, 3.892, 319.29 def. Torrence, 3.915, 311.13; Schumacher, 3.945, 310.20 def. Salinas, 4.140, no velocity;

FINAL — Ashley, 3.846, 324.12 def. Schumacher, 3.835, 323.66.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Alex Laughlin, Dodge Charger, 4.182, 302.08 def. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, Broke – No Present; J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 4.025, 325.53 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 5.480, 129.84; John Drive, Chevy Camaro, 4.063, 324.36 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 4.004, 318.99; Robert Hight, Camaro, 3.938, 321.35 def. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.999, 322.88; Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.972, 329.26 def. Ron Capps, Supra, 3.962, 318.92; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.051, 308.50 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 9.974, 73.00; Chad Inexperienced, Mustang, 3.969, 322.50 def. Jim Campbell, Chevy Monte Carlo, Broke – No Present;

QUARTERFINALS — Tasca III, 4.418, 267.69 def. Hight, Foul – Centerline; Inexperienced, 4.081, 309.84 was unopposed; Todd, 4.117, 314.90 def. Hagan, 4.608, 193.16; Drive, 4.090, 318.54 def. Laughlin, 5.204, 153.06;

SEMIFINALS — Tasca III, 4.062, 315.64 def. Inexperienced, 4.259, 282.90; Drive, 4.105, 319.07 def. Todd, 4.098, 319.90;

FINAL — Tasca III, 4.032, 322.96 def. Drive, 4.085, 320.51.

BRSTOL, Tenn. — Level standings (high 10) following the tenth annual NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway, the seventh of 21 occasions within the NHRA Tenting World Drag Racing Collection –

Prime Gasoline

1. Justin Ashley, 518; 2. Steve Torrence, 510; 3. Brittany Drive, 472; 4. Leah Pruett, 462; 5. Austin Prock, 438; 6. Mike Salinas, 414; 7. Antron Brown, 408; 8. Josh Hart, 378; 9. Shawn Langdon, 335; 10. Doug Kalitta, 325.

Humorous Automotive

1. Matt Hagan, 527; 2. Ron Capps, 493; 3. Robert Hight, 482; 4. Bob Tasca III, 463; 5. Chad Inexperienced, 458; 6. Alexis DeJoria, 438; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 415; 8. John Drive, 398; 9. Cruz Pedregon, 340; 10. J.R. Todd, 312.

Saturday, June 10, 2023

CLIP 1

Justin Ashley

Prime Gasoline Winner

Phillips Join Toyota Prime Gasoline Dragster

3.846 seconds, 324.12 mph

NOTE: Justin Ashley collected the postponed NHRA New England Nationals on Saturday on the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol when he took down Tony Schumacher due to his 3.846-second lap at 324.12 mph. Ashley’s win marked his third Prime Gasoline win of the 2023 NHRA season.

CLIP 2

Bob Tasca III

Humorous Automotive Winner

PPG Ford Mustang

4.032 seconds, 322.96 mph

NOTE: New England native Bob Tasca earned the postponed NHRA New England Nationals on Saturday on the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol. Tasca clocked a 4.032-second lap at 322.96 mph to take down 16-time champion John Drive. Tasca’s win marked his first Humorous Automotive win from his dwelling observe of New England Dragway.

CLIP 3

Justin Bond

Professional Mod Winner

Bahrain 1 Racing Chevrolet Camaro

5.853 seconds, 246.30 mph

NOTE: Factors chief Justin Bond picked up his third win of the 2023 season on Saturday in Bristol, knocking off Tony Wilson within the last spherical with a run of 5.853-seconds at 246.30 mph in his Bahrain 1 Racing Chevrolet Camaro.