Austin Prock lived out a lifelong aspiration throughout his dominant, championship-winning NHRA Humorous Automobile marketing campaign.
Prock left little question, handing over one of the unbelievable seasons in latest Humorous Automobile historical past, blistering monitor information, setting nationwide marks and making the quickest run in NHRA historical past.
It was every part Prock dreamed of – and far, far more – when he made his Humorous Automobile debut this season. Filling in for John Power Racing President Robert Hight, a three-time world champion, Prock had massive footwear to fill, but it surely’s a chance he relished.
Prock raced alongside star crew chief and his father, Jimmy Prock, and his brother, Thomas, fulfilling a dream that solely appeared to get higher because the season went on.
Prock received eight races, tying him with Hight and Ron Capps for probably the most in a single season in Humorous Automobile since 2000, together with his playoff victory in Las Vegas placing him in place to clinch the world title throughout qualifying in Pomona.
The 2019 Rookie of the Yr did that after which went 3.804 seconds – the quickest run in Humorous Automobile since 2017 and the fourth-quickest in historical past – to shut out qualifying and his championship season with an emphatic exclamation level in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Instruments/AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS.
“When you’ve got a dream, go for it,” Prock stated. “For those who’re keen about one thing, go after it. You’re not going to be the very best should you don’t put in probably the most work and probably the most effort, and all I’ve ever cared about is driving a race automotive. We’ve all the time been keen about it and we’ve all the time been surrounded by nice folks.”
Prock grabbed everybody’s consideration instantly in Gainesville, qualifying No. 1 with a stout 3.820 and advancing to the ultimate spherical. It was his first of 15 No. 1 qualifier efforts in the course of the 20-race marketing campaign.
“I’ve been working towards this for 19 years,” Prock stated. “I began driving race automobiles after I was 10 years previous and all I might consider was being knowledgeable race automotive driver in any method and successful the world championship, and we bought it achieved this yr. I bought to do it with my household, with my dad turning the knobs with my brother. I’m actually happy with that.”
The numbers converse for themselves, as Prock loved six of the seven quickest runs in Humorous Automobile this season. He certified No. 1 in 5 of the six Countdown races, advancing to 12 last rounds and racking up a spectacular 53-12 report in 2024. To completely end off the season with a exceptional bow, Prock went a tremendous 341.68 mph throughout eliminations in Pomona, making the quickest run in NHRA historical past.
Sixteen-time champion and staff proprietor John Power, who was injured in a crash at Virginia Motorsports Park, wound up second within the standings regardless of lacking the ultimate 11 races. Jack Beckman took his place and received twice down the stretch protecting the automotive within the hunt.
Regardless of a winless season, four-time champion Ron Capps wound up third within the standings.
The Factors
Austin Prock 2,817
John Power 2,651
Ron Capps 2,529
Matt Hagan 2,519
Bob Tasca III 2,435
Blake Alexander 2,394
Daniel Wilkerson 2,369
J.R. Todd 2,336
Chad Inexperienced 2,300
Cruz Pedregon 2,262
Winners
Austin Prock 8
Matt Hagan 3
Bob Tasca III 3
Jack Beckman 2
John Power 2
Blake Alexander 1
J.R. Todd 1