BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 18, 2022) – Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Chevrolet dragster head to the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway at the beginning of a revitalization for young team.
A breakthrough first win at Seattle in 2019 propelled the third generation drag racer to NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year honors before the COVID-19 pandemic briefly sidetracked his pro career. He is racing a full schedule in the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster for the first time in three years and started the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series off strong with a runner-up finish at the season-opening Winternationals. He has since had a No. 2 qualifying spot at the Virginia Nationals where he also reached the semifinals. He followed up his Virginia performance with another semifinal finish at the New England Nationals, but a series of early race day exits, and poor qualifying performances has dropped the Top Fuel star to 12th in the points standings.
“After a few tough weekends, I’m really looking forward to Brainerd. We have hit the reset button in our pits and are going to conditions we are most familiar with. The brain trust at JFR have been putting their heads together to make the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist dragster a real threat this week and I believe it’s going to pay off,” Prock said. “I’m going to be on my game and drive with heart like I know how to do and we are going to see how we fair. We have all the parts of the puzzle to end up with a Wally. We owe it to our crew that has been busting their tails week after week and would love to celebrate in a big way this weekend.”
Prock will have his birthday on August 21 and is hoping to celebrate with his second tour victory. In 2019, Prock qualified No. 8 and made it past Scott Palmer and teammate Brittany Force before losing in the semifinals to eventual event winner Leah Pruett.
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will begin with four qualifying sessions Friday at 2:15 and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. local time. Eliminations will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event begins with two qualifying shows, Friday at 8:00 p.m. E.T. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network.
