NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

No matter how many times he goes to New England Dragway, the site of this weekend’s 12th annual NHRA New England Nationals, it will always be special for local native Bob Tasca III.

The Funny Car veteran holds many fond memories at the facility, from his first-ever pass down a dragstrip to going more than 330 mph in his PPG Ford Mustang, something he plans to do multiple times this weekend at New England Dragway.

The facility will always be the home track for the veteran, and Tasca has big plans to get his season on track this weekend. The team made positive steps in Chicago, but currently sitting ninth in points and with four races coming in the next five weeks, Tasca knows this is an opportune time to make a move, and a victory in Epping would provide the best way to start this stretch.

“For me, it doesn’t get more special than racing here,” Tasca said. “To come back where it all started for me and to be in front of thousands and thousands of fans, and a lot of family and friends, it’s a special race for me, and it always will be.

“This track has been here a long time, and it pulls from a very wide area. It’s a special place, and the fans always pack the house here. Every time we go here, it’s standing-room only, and that makes it exciting. It also could be the turning point in the season for us if we do well.”

The sold-out crowd at last year’s race in Epping saw John Force (Funny Car), Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), and Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) claim race wins. It was Force, Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) who picked up Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge wins. Eliminations on FOX will be broadcast on Sunday, June 1 at 6 p.m. ET.

It is the seventh of 20 races during the 2025 season, and Tasca knows the time is now to get on a roll. The summer stretch moves fast, and getting on track quickly would set him up nicely for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Tasca started well, qualifying second in Gainesville and first in Phoenix, but had a rough three-race stretch before a solid rebound in Chicago. He picked up a round-win there and has his sights set on building on that in Epping. To do so, he’ll have to get past the likes of points leader and reigning world champion Austin Prock, Chicago winner Jack Beckman, Paul Lee, who won in Phoenix, Ron Capps, four-time Epping winner Matt Hagan, Chad Green, and Daniel Wilkerson.

Tasca will also compete for the No. 1 Clawifier Award presented by NAPA, which will be on the line during Friday’s second session. A special chair made of lobster pots will await drivers on the top end, with the evening’s No. 1 qualifier sitting in the chair until they are replaced by a new No. 1 qualifier or claim the award. The driver will receive a large lobster, while the teams will be given lobster dinners.

“This is a big stretch ahead, and we definitely made progress in Chicago,” Tasca said. “We just have to get that consistency. We went down three of the four sessions in qualifying [in Chicago], and bottom line, we did make some progress. We’ll make some more adjustments this weekend, and this is the time of year when you have to get your stuff together. This is really where the top teams shine. We’re not where we want to be, but it's a long season, and I like where we are internally.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday, May 30, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 31 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 1. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday, and then eliminations action from 6-9 p.m. ET on Sunday on FOX.

To purchase tickets to the NHRA New England Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets.