Bob Tasca and the Tasca Racing team were prepared to skip the upcoming Thursday’s test session at O'Reilly Raceway Park to prepare for the U.S. Nationals.

Then the weather changed, as did the plans to test with the Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang to prepare for arguably the biggest race of the year – the first race in the Countdown to 1.

“Obviously, these testing day are precious commodities,” said Tasca when asked about the test. “We actually didn't make a decision to test at Indy until Sunday night for a couple reasons. Number one we didn't want to chance any rain and number two you want to pick the conditions that you are trying to learn something in. For us, it's more of a cold weather tune-up that we've been trying to chase and get ready for some of these conditions over the next six races. We'll have some hot tracks, but clearly we'll have some unbelievable conditions coming up. We were thinking of going to Charlotte the Monday after the race, but when we saw the weather forecast for Indy for Thursday – low of 58, high of 75, zero percent chance of rain – you can't pass that up.



Bob Tasca and the Tasca Racing team were prepared to skip the upcoming Thursday’s test session at O'Reilly Raceway Park to prepare for the U.S. Nationals.

Then the weather changed, as did the plans to test with the Quick Lane/Motorcraft Ford Mustang to prepare for arguably the biggest race of the year – the first race in the Countdown to 1.

“Obviously, these testing day are precious commodities,” said Tasca when asked about the test. “We actually didn't make a decision to test at Indy until Sunday night for a couple reasons. Number one we didn't want to chance any rain and number two you want to pick the conditions that you are trying to learn something in. For us, it's more of a cold weather tune-up that we've been trying to chase and get ready for some of these conditions over the next six races. We'll have some hot tracks, but clearly we'll have some unbelievable conditions coming up. We were thinking of going to Charlotte the Monday after the race, but when we saw the weather forecast for Indy for Thursday – low of 58, high of 75, zero percent chance of rain – you can't pass that up.

“We always try to pick a Monday after a national. We think that is the best time to learn; when you have a lot of data to compare it to.”

Tasca has other reasons to look forward to the test. The biggest is the opportunity to get a solid test under the team's belt with the combination they've been running, both chassis and engine, with little more than blind luck and help from Ford and John Force Racing.

Pointed in an entirely different direction at the beginning of the year, Tasca missed a test in Florida prior to the start of the season when his grandfather passed away and then his youngest son became critically ill and was hospitalized. Fortunately the child fully recovered with no apparent lasting effects from the illness.

The team muddled through the Florida test with help from Del Worsham and then everyone came together in Phoenix for the final test before the start of the 2010 season. Weather conditions hampered the test session for everybody. However, there were other conditions underfoot which would eventually pretty much negate the information learned in Phoenix.

By the time the NHRA circuit arrived in Charlotte in April, Tasca announced he had come to an agreement to purchase engines, and other critical components from John Force Racing. Force, geared up for four teams only had three on the racetrack. Bringing Tasca into the fold was critical to the cost effectiveness of Force's program.

Crew chief Chris Cunningham tossed aside his notes and started from scratch for the second time in less than five months.

“The biggest test we've done this year was Monday after Chicago going into Englishtown with the all new Ford engine,” explained Tasca. “It was the first time we had the motor in the car in its entirety. We did have the test session there which set us up for the win in Englishtown. That couldn't have gone any better.”

Tasca couldn't nail down the site of the only other time the team has tested during the season, however, burning one of only two tests left to the operation, is a decision not made lightly.

“For our team this is going to be a very important session to get ready for the Countdown.”

Two weeks ago, as Tasca and Cunningham looked over the information from their runs; Cunningham made a joking comment which Tasca now takes more seriously.

In the midst of a deeper conversation, Cunningham told his boss what he planned on changing over the winter - “nothing.”  Cunningham is looking forward to an off-season of preparation which wouldn't be obsolete five or six races into a new season.

Tasca agrees, but he would like to see at least one more change before this season is over. He'd love to see a change on the faces of the racing gods – one which smiles more evenly on his operation.

“There isn't a bolt, nut, washer on our car that is the same as when we started the season. Nothing. Blower, engine, block, heads, manifold, clutch thrown out the window. Obviously, the John Force camp has pointed us in the right direction, but I have so much respect for Chris Cunningham now more than ever before after all the things I have thrown at him and at the guys.

“I never stopped until he said to me in Brainerd, 'I would just love to have another season with a setup I had the prior season.' I think, like anything else you are always refining but we've made wholesale changes since '08.

“I will say this, I have never ever in my career been more confidence about our chances to win a championship then this team has right now. Tapping into Ford engineering has been a huge boost to our program and team.”

There have been some really close losses over the past two months and even though the margins are miniscule, a loss according to Tasca by thousands of a second is far more frustrating than a loss by tenths or even hundredths of a second.

“Absolutely. I will interrupt you right now,” Tasca jumped in saying immediately when asked about the losses this year. “It is absolutely, positively, a loss is a loss and a win is a win. Maybe, it just makes you feel better if you had no chance, smoke the tires, made the wrong call, got your doors blown off; but I am telling you right now, you win a race by an inch and it's jsut a win. When you lose by an inch, it's gut-wrenching.

“As a driver/team owner you have to be able to look forward, not back. These are devastating losses. You lose on a hole shot; okay I went 090 you went 080. The guy beat me. A loss is a loss but the tight ones will burn you up a little bit. Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. We take them hard. We take them personal. Twenty minutes after its over, its over. You look forward, not back.

“That really has been the attitude of our team. We've had some heartbreaking losses. Starting in Sonoma, in Denver and then again in Brainerd. The racing gods – they owe me a couple. I hope they've stored up a couple for me in the Countdown.”

Tasca will have a better idea of just how good his chances to win the Countdown really are after the Indy test session. Then he and the team will buckle down and get after it against some of the toughest competition to ever show up at the strip.

“The competitiveness in Fuel Funny Car is maybe unparalleled by any other season. Look at the races I've lost and the races I've won against other cars. This is an exciting year. As much as I am a racing, I am a fan of drag racing. This Countdown is going to be an absolute shootout all the way to Pomona.”