Providence, R.I.--Bob Tasca III '97 recently earned his first National Hot Rod Association Funny Car title at the 40th Annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

Competing in the Full Throttle Drag Series Funny Car class, Tasca, a Scituate, R.I., resident, captured the championship with a final-round performance clocked at 4.200 seconds. His top speed, which came in his Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang, was 280.72 mph.

He beat his mentor, Funny Car legend John Force, in the third round/semifinals and his best friend, Tony Pedregon, in the finals on March 15.

The victory was Tasca's first in 27 attempts, and it was the first time he held the number one qualifying position for a race.

Tasca is executive vice president of the Tasca Auto Group in Cranston, R.I. His father and the president of the dealership, Bob Tasca Jr. '74, is a member of the College's Providence President's Council.

Tasca has been racing since he was 16 years old. He started his racing career by attending Roy Hill's driving school. From there he went on to be licensed in four NHRA classes.

For years, he said he dreamed of racing in the "Top Alcohol Funny Car" division, a category similar to a junior version of the "Top Fuel" drag car class.

After attending Frank Hawley's Top Alcohol Funny Car driving program, the nine-member Tasca Team decided to build its own car and enter professional racing.

In existence since 2007, the Tasca Team has appeared in the final round 12 times, won two national events, two divisional races, and finished in the finals of the U.S. Nationals in two consecutive years.

As for his first Funny Car title, Tasca said, "To be a champion you have to beat the champions, and we showed that we can do just that."

"It's so hard to do and it's very rewarding to be running like this against the competition that's out there these days," he said. "It's almost hard to explain how it makes me feel. It's awesome."

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