NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Tasca Racing will return to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series at the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 20-22.

“This is a special race for a number of reasons,” said team owner and driver Bob Tasca III. “The primary sponsor on my hot rod is Gary Crossley Ford, which is owned by Todd Crossley. Todd is a very close friend and is one of the new owners of Heartland Park Topeka. Todd is a fellow racer and has been a huge fan of Tasca Racing ever since I started. When Heartland Park went up for sale, I knew it was Todd’s dream to own a racetrack, and none better than one just around the corner from his Ford dealership. I was thrilled when I heard he ended up with the track. And I know Todd; he will make Topeka into one of the premier race events in the country.”

Being a new track owner, one of the largest Ford dealers in the country, and now a primary sponsor of a nitro-fueled Mustang, Crossley said, “It’s a dream come true to be able to have my own NHRA Funny Car running in the inaugural race at our track, and who better to drive than one of my best friends, Bob Tasca III. Having been both a racer and a race fan my whole life, it gives me great pride to be part of the team bringing a Ford Mustang back to the NHRA Mello Yello Series this season.

“Drag racing is a team sport, but it takes great sponsors like Mello Yello and Ford to produce a product worthy of our race fans. I’m optimistic that Ford will see the excitement that our participation is creating and work to increase their involvement in the near future.”

Fresh off his first race of the season, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Charlotte, Tasca is looking for more. “We were very happy with our first race, but my main reason for running Charlotte was to get ready for Topeka,” he said. “I know this is a big deal for Todd and his family, and we really want to perform well. It was great to get all the guys back together and into race mode. It was even better to be back in the seat!”

When asked what it’s going to be like to have something other than a Tasca Ford logo on his hot rod, Tasca said, “Todd and I spoke just after the purchase of Heartland, and we came up with a plan to run my car with a Gary Crossley Ford-themed design. This is definitely a first for Tasca Racing to run another Ford dealer’s logos, but I couldn’t think of a better dealer to promote in the Kanas City area than Gary Crossley Ford. They run a first-class organization from top to bottom, family-owned for multiple generations, and one of the largest Ford stores in the country. Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday has been a big part of our success in business, and I know it.”