Backstretch Motorsports

JOLIET, Ill. – One day after his second explosion fit for the highlight reels this season, Tony Pedregon powered his Q Horsepower Chevy Impala SS to a trip to the winner’s circle at the 11th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

Another Tony – Chicago’s own Tony Schumacher – took center stage in Top Fuel with an event-best time and speed in the final round, while Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) and Chris Rivas (Pro Stock Motorcycle) drove away with event titles as well.

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JOLIET, Ill. – After Friday it looked like Ashley Force would become the first woman in NHRA history to qualify No. 1 in Funny Car. Only Melanie Troxel – the only other woman currently competing in the category - could beat her. On her last chance, Troxel did it.

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JOLIET, Ill. – It may seem that, after earning her first career win as a professional driver more than a month ago, a No. 1 qualifier would be somewhat anticlimactic for Ashley Force.

But when she drove her Castrol GTX Ford Mustang to a 4.759-second pass at 329.10 mph during the second round of qualifying at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals on Friday, those numbers stood for more. They proved her young team, in only its second year together, is becoming the kind of consistent and comfortable team that posts competitive, winning numbers, like her career-best speed.

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JOLIET, Ill. (June 4, 2008) – After having one of his most consistent showings last weekend in Topeka, Bob Tasca III looks to continue his move up the NHRA POWERade championship points ladder this weekend in the Route 66 NHRA Nationals.

“With how we qualified and ran in Topeka, we were able to jump back up into the top 10 in points,” said Tasca. “We lost on a holeshot to Gary Scelzi in the second round, but overall for us, it was a great weekend. My team won the Full Throttle award for the first time this year and we earned our best qualifying position of the season.

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JOLIET, Ill. – Plenty of drivers stepped up as early-season favorites this year - new names and old.

In Top Fuel, Chicago’s Tony Schumacher and crew chief Alan Johnson continue to tighten their grip on Top Fuel while drivers like teammates Antron Brown and Rod Fuller stand in their way. Fan-favorite Ashley Force has proven herself a serious contender for the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series world championship title in Funny Car – and although the moniker means less to her than the trophy, she would be the first woman to earn it.

But that can change all too fast.

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