Photo Credit: Auto Imagery
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2024) – Austin Prock didn’t dominate in the manner to which everyone has become accustomed this season, but the result was the same on Sunday at zMax Dragway, where the 29-year-old Funny Car rookie drove the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to victory in the 16th NHRA Carolina Nationals.
Driving a blue-and-black Chevy bearing the number 374, which was his grandfather’s competition number when he was racing Funny Cars in the 1970s, Prock covered the 1,000-foot distance in 3.924 seconds at a finish line speed of 326.46 miles per hour in the final round to get to the line just ahead of No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan (3.958, 324.98 mph).
“We’ve got a great team behind us and I just try not to mess it up,” said the winner. “I just stab and steer, and this Chevrolet Camaro has won me a lot of rounds this year (42 thus far). I’ve just been trying to do my best. I’ve been more focused than I ever have (been) in any category I’ve ever driven.
“I just feel so comfortable – and I love racing with my family (dad Jimmy is his crew chief, brother Thomas a key technician),” he said. “I know how good this team was (with Robert Hight in the harnesses) and how great it was when they told me I was going to get put in the seat (while his predecessor went on medical leave).
“I had high expectations for myself from the start,” said the 2019 Rookie-of-the-Year, an award he won at the wheel of a JFR Top Fuel dragster. “You don’t want to be the guy who lets them down. I’ve done that a couple times this year and it’s the worst feeling in the world.”
It was Prock’s third straight tour victory, his seventh of the season, and it powered him to a commanding point lead entering this week’s 28th NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis, a race that marks the midway point of the playoffs.
When qualifying begins Friday at World Wide Technology Raceway, the former quarter midget and sprint car driver will lead second place Bob Tasca III by 129 points and JFR teammate Jack Beckman (3rd), whom he defeated in an all-JFR, all-Chevy semifinal, by 136.
The No. 2 qualifier after missing his 12th No. 1 start of the season by .001 of a second, Prock ousted Alexis DeJoria in round one and turned back three-time former series champion Ron Capps in the quarterfinals to set up an intramural duel with Beckman. In that race, he left first and never trailed, winning in 3.962 seconds to 4.016 for the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Camaro.
It was a disappointing outcome for Beckman, who is earning Countdown points on behalf of 16-time series champion John Force, who continues to receive treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) suffered in a June crash in Richmond, Va.
Although he held onto third place in points, the two-time World Champion acknowledged that Sunday was a missed opportunity in the bid to get a 17th series title for Force.
“It was another solid weekend for us, but frustrating,” Beckman said. “Our PEAK Chevy has all the resources and talent to put us back into the winners’ circle. It’s time to get it done in St. Louis.”
After qualifying her HendrickCars.com Chevrolet No. 1 in Top Fuel and after putting up the event’s best performance numbers at 3.690 and 335.73 mph, Brittany Force succumbed to a loss of traction that slowed her to 3.909 seconds at 314.53 mph in a quarterfinal duel with Clay Millican.
That left the two-time World Champion disappointed but still encouraged about the chances of ending a lengthy victory drought in one of the season’s last four events.
“Charlotte was a special weekend for us running for HendrickCars.com,” said the 16-time tour winner and Rookie-of-the-Year six years before Prock. “I’m very proud to represent Hendrick, especially here in their back yard. We had an incredibly strong car all weekend (and) even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, I’m proud of the progress we’re making and proud of our effort against Clay Millican.
“We’re staying positive and we’re confident that bigger results are just around the corner.”
