Image via tasca3/Instagram
NHRA drag racing star Bob Tasca III went off in a recent interview during Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida about Fox Sports promoting IndyCar as “the fastest racing on Earth.” Even better, he did this during an interview with a Fox Sports reporter, calling the marketing campaign during the winter “an insult” to NHRA drivers and fans. This touched off a bit of a war of words in motorsports.
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Twisting the knife a little bit, a clearly upset Tasca ended his comments with, “I didn’t think it was fake news network on Fox.” Then he walked off, ending the interview. He wasn’t having any of it.
.@Tasca3 making noise in Gainesville. #NHRASpeedCheck
— NHRA (@NHRA) March 9, 2025
Watch on FS1 at 7p ET. pic.twitter.com/l9ylD2XVKw
On the Tasca Racing website, Bob Tasca III’s profile refers to him as “the fastest Ford man on the planet.” After all, the guy set a new drag racing world record when he hit 341.68 mph at Pro Superstar Shootout 2024 over a year ago.
Tasca’s comments on camera touched off a bit of a debate after the video hit social media, with some siding with the driver and others jeering him for only driving in a straight line. More importantly, Scott McLaughlin, an IndyCar driver with Team Penske, weighed in on the matter using a bit of humor.
Taking to X, McLaughlin quipped, “Well at least the commercials are reaching far and wide. Hope you tune in Bob on March 23 at 3 pm on FOX!!”
Well at least the commercials are reaching far and wide. Hope you tune in Bob on March 23 at 3pm on FOX !! https://t.co/UuJXWzA3Zg
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) March 10, 2025
Fellow NHRA driver Tony Stewart, who has competed in IndyCar as well, was asked by a reporter what he thought of Tasca’s comments. He replied that Fox News is engaging in “false advertising” claiming IndyCar is the fastest motorsport, making reporters laugh by saying “they’re the fastest ones that turn during a lap.”
Well, since @TonyStewart has driven both @IndyCar and @NHRA, hear what he has to say about the great speed debate 😁 At the end of the day, we love both. #TSRnitro | #NHRA | #IndyCar | #NHRASpeedCheck | #Dodge pic.twitter.com/Om5C9Zplg3
— Tony Stewart Racing Nitro (@TSRnitro) March 14, 2025
However, Stewart said he’s “excited” about how Fox News is promoting IndyCar as well as NHRA now, saying the move is “huge.” He went on to praise the network and its support for NHRA.
Asked by a reporter at Gatornationals what he thought of the Fox Sports marketing, IndyCar veteran and husband of a former NHRA Funny Car driver, Graham Rahal said the marketing campaign is “interesting” but ultimately, he believes Fox Sports is helping out both motorsports.
Image via tasca3/Instagram
