BAYTOWN, Texas (April 10, 2019) — Austin Prock and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Top Fuel dragster team are going into the Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals ready to improve their performance.
Prock, who kicked off his rookie season with back-to-back first round victories at the Winternationals and Arizona Nationals had a series of solid passes at the Gatornationals and most recent Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals but had early exits in the first round. After taking advantage of testing Monday in Las Vegas, the rookie of the year candidate is confident he and the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist team will only improve at Houston Raceway Park this coming weekend.
“We didn’t have the weekend we had hoped for in Vegas but we decided to stay and test and get this race car sorted out. We had some success at testing, made planned shut offs and put up some early competitive numbers so heading into Houston we’re hoping for a better weekend,” said Prock. “I have all the faith in these guys out here and my crew chiefs Jon Schaffer and Ronnie Thompson. I’ll be on my game and I know they will be too. We’re going to put it all together this weekend.”
The fifth race in the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season has significance for Prock. At last year’s event he had his first win as a crew member when he helped now teammate Brittany Force get to the winner’s circle. He’ll be looking to do the same this time around but from the driver’s seat and become the eighth John Force Racing driver to be successful at the facility.
“I’m excited to get to Houston. I love that race track because it has a little bit of history for John Force Racing. Robert got his first win there. John, Ashley, Courtney and Brittany all have wins there and other JFR drivers, so I’m hoping I can join that group,” said Prock. “I’m hoping for a good weekend. I heard they put some new pavement down and I’m hoping the track is in better condition than it was last year and we can run some good numbers.”
Qualifying at the NHRA SpringNationals starts at 4:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Friday and at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Catch Friday qualifying on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. Finals will air Sunday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. and will be live from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
