AUSTIN PROCK AND MONTANA BRAND / RMT PREPARED FOR NHRA COUNTDOWN CHALLENGE STARTING AT MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY

READING, Pa. (Sept. 15, 2022) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster team have their sights set on victory, and a serious boost in their points position as they head to the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the first of six events in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

Prock started the 2022 Camping World NHRA season with a runner-up finish at the season opening Winternationals and has since secured the No. 2 qualifying spot at the Virginia Nationals where he reached the semifinals and followed up his performance with a semifinal finish at the New England Nationals. A series of early race day exits, and poor qualifying performances dropped the rising Top Fuel star to 12th in the points standings, the position he starts his second career NHRA Countdown the Championship.

“I’m feeling confident going into Reading with this Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team. We have been making progress and I think it will show this weekend,” Prock said. “We’re ready to put on an exciting show in this Countdown. If we get off to a strong start this weekend, we will be right in the mix of things to go for the gold.”

The 2019 Rookie of the year, who was sidelined in 2020 and 2021 due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, will have plenty of inspiration to draw from as he vies for a shot at the 2022 Top Fuel world championship. His teammate, Robert Hight, won the 2009 Funny Car championship starting the Countdown in last place, a feat no one else has been able to overcome. Prock will have motivation from crew chiefs Joe Barlam and Rahn Tobler, the latter of which is the only crew chief to have won series championships with three different drivers in two different classes.

Competition at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway begins with qualifying on Friday at 5:45 p.m. and Saturday at 1:15 and 4:45 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins Friday with a qualifying show at 7 p.m. ET and another on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Eliminations will be aired Sunday at 2 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) on FOX Broadcasting Network.