Photo Credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
KENT, Wash. (July 19, 2024) – Funny Car rookie Austin Prock took a giant step toward securing his eighth No. 1 start of the season Friday, coaxing the Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS down the one-thousand-foot course at Pacific Raceways in 3.838 seconds at a finish line speed of 328.62 miles per hour in the first ever nighttime qualifying session for the NHRA Northwest Nationals.
“That was impressive,” Prock beamed after coming within .006 of the track record set eight years ago by Del Worsham. “These Cornwell Tools boys are just animals. It was awesome listening to them read the racetrack (and) read the competition in front of us.
“We were making some last minute changes, but I actually lifted a little early so we were missing a little E.T., a little speed,” he said. “It got out of hand on me a little bit (and) went towards the wall, (got me) out of the throttle. Great job by the team again. I’m pretty sure that’ll stick (for No. 1) for the rest of the weekend. These guys are awesome.”
Quickest in both Friday sessions (3.955 at 324.36 mph in Q1), the 28-year-old point leader now can turn his attention to Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in which he will be pursuing a Funny Car record fourth straight win.
He will oppose Bob Tasca III, to whom he lost a semifinal decision by an almost imperceptible .001 of a second two weeks ago at Norwalk, Ohio. Ron Capps will race Matt Hagan for the other spot in the #2Fast2Tasty final.
Although she saw her track speed record broken, it still was a very good first day for two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force, who returned to the cockpit of her national record-holding Flav-R-Pac dragster after missing Norwalk to be with family and her dad, who was injured in a June 23 crash at Richmond, Va.
The 38-year-old was fourth quickest in the first session (3.866, 319.45 mph) and third quickest under the lights at 3.701 seconds, 333.08 mph.
“It feels really good just to be back with this team in this car,” said the 16-time Mission Foods tour winner. “We’re Flav-R-Pac this weekend and we’re proud of that, but just to get back with my team and this racing community is good. They have supported my dad and my family through this entire thing. It has been tough, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without all of them. So, thank you, everyone.”
