Veteran nitro tuner and former Funny Car pilot Mike Neff will join Tasca Racing full-time beginning with this weekend’s Dodge NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. According to team owner and driver Bob Tasca III, Neff will join John Schaffer as co-crew chief as part of a multi-year deal.

“Mike Neff brings a level of experience and tone to the team that is invaluable,” Tasca said. “Neff and Jon compliment each other so well. Our success on track this year shows it. It’s so important to have the right combination of people behind you and I think we’ve done that.”

Tasca and his Motorcraft/Quick Lane team have had a standout year, capturing two wins, two runners-up and three semifinal finishes that have positioned him fifth in the standings. Seven years after capturing his first Funny Car victory, Tasca III earned back-to-back wins for the first time in his career at Bristol and Norwalk this summer. And part of that success was owed to Neff, who was assisting Tasca’s operation on-loan from Don Schumacher Racing; Neff had served as co-crew chief alongside Phil Shuler on Tony Schumacher’s dragster in 2018 before a lack of sponsorship sidelined the team this season.

“I’m excited to be back working on a Funny Car,” Neff said. “And I’m excited to be back with Jon (Schaffer). Jon and I have worked together quite a bit in the past and we have a great working relationship. It’s good to be back working with Bob and his family, too. Bob worked hard to get Ford back. They have a great team over there at Ford Performance and it’s good to see them in drag racing again.”