Photo Credit: Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery
SONOMA, Calif. (July 27, 2024) – His back to the wall at Sonoma Raceway after a disastrous first day performance left him 16th in the qualifying order for Sunday’s 36th Sonoma Nationals, Funny Car rookie Austin Prock raced Saturday like Friday never happened, driving his Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS past J.R. Todd and Blake Alexander to win for the fifth straight time in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.
In becoming the only driver other than Top Fuel pro Justin Ashley to win five straight times in the unique bonus series, Prock put himself in position to double up for the fourth time this year as winner of the #2Fast2Tasty and the main event in the same race weekend.
“We had a big first round matchup with the ‘Yella Fellas’ (Todd and his Kalitta Racing teammates) and we made a really nice, clean pass,” said the 28-year-old former oval track racer. “That was a huge run, from being not qualified all the way up to position number four. We were the second best in the session. Huge kudos to this Cornwell Tools team.”
After dispatching Todd without the benefit of lane choice, Prock stopped Alexander in the final with a time of 3.897 seconds.
Overall, Prock and his Cornwell team have won six #2Fast2Tasty Challenges outright this year and shared a seventh with Todd. The Challenge provides a do-over for the semifinalists from the previous event in the Mission Foods Series.
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SONOMA, Calif. – Funny Car results from Saturday’s Mission Foods 2Fast/2Tasty NHRA Challenge at Sonoma Raceway, a prelude to Sunday’s 36th DENSO Sonoma Nationals:
Semifinals – Austin Prock, Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, 3.872 seconds, 335.07 mph, def. J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 4.671, 174.49 mph; Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 4.174, 231.88 mph, def. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 10.853, 69.92 mph.
FINAL – Prock, 3.897, 332.10 mph, def. Alexander, 3.939, 292.20 mph.
