Photo Courtesy: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
BRAINERD, Minn. (August 17, 2024) – Austin Prock continued to set new standards Saturday at the wheel of the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, winning his sixth straight Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in advance of Sunday’s 42nd Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
The fourth-generation racer, who turns 29 on Wednesday, beat Ron Capps in the #2Fast2Tasty final after an opening victory over Bob Tasca III, to whom he had lost in the semifinals at Sonoma, Calif., by .001 of a second. It wasn’t that close this time around as Prock powered his way to a 3.945 second time while Tasca slowed to 4.022.
“This is crazy,” beamed Thomas Prock, brother of the point leader and a key player on the Cornwell crew. “I can’t believe we’ve won so many of these events and that was a great run right there. The track got very good after they prepped it (following a massive oildown). Great job by the NHRA. Way to stick with it and get it down right!”
In the final, Prock was out first and never trailed, winning in a time of 3.860 seconds that carried him to the No. 1 qualifying position for the ninth time in 13 races this season.
Until Saturday, no one had won more consecutive #2Fast2Tasty races than Top Fuel driver Justin Ashley, who won five straight times in 2023, the year the program made its debut. Overall, Saturday’s win was Prock’s seventh outright his season (he also shares a win with J.R. Todd after weather canceled their final round match at Pomona, Calif., last March) and the ninth for John Force Racing.
BRAINERD, Minn. – Results from Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge, a preliminary to Sunday’s 42nd Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway.
Semifinals – Austin Prock, Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, 3.945, 326.00 mph, def. Bob Tasca III, 4.022, 281.48 mph; Ron Capps, 3.981, 321.19 mph, def. Matt Hagan, 3.997, 323.27 mph.
FINAL – Austin Prock, Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro, 3.860, 334.07 mph, def. Ron Capps, 3.881, 330.15 mph.
