Austin Prock gets focused prior to a run during Sunday’s playNHRA Virginia Nationals. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
By Terrill Covey
DINWIDDIE, VA. – On a day filled with mental, emotional, and weather related curve balls, Austin Prock and his team hit a home run, laying down the fastest lap of the day in the final round to pick up his second straight funny car win, and fourth overall on the season, at Sunday’s playNHRA Virginia Nationals.
“It was definitely one for the memories,” said Prock. “A lot of different emotions. Long day at the track. You don’t typically see days like this, where you run the final round at night.”
There were weather delays that pushed the racing back on Sunday, but the more impactful delay was after a violent crash by John Force, Prock’s car owner and friend. Force was transported to a nearby hospital, where he remained as of Thursday afternoon. Racing was on hold for an hour to clean up after Force’s accident.
The team has since announced that Force and his car will not be participating in this weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, and Force’s daughter Brittany, will also not be competing in the Top Fuel category, as the family has stayed with Force at the hospital during his recovery.
“I’m super proud of this team, to get it done with everything that went on,” Prock said. “Keeping my head together. I was obviously very emotional after what happened. I haven’t watched the crash, and personally, I don’t ever want to.”
The win opened Prock’s lead in the Funny Car points up to 131 points over Force, who actually won the round in which he crashed. However, Prock said it was hard to think about points, or even focus on the task at hand, after Force’s incident.
“I just told myself, ‘Go out there and do your job. You got one job, man,’” Prock said. “I had to be cool, calm and collected. If you’ve got anything on your mind, or you’re amped up, or too down, you don’t drive as well. When you’re just in there, and cool as a cucumber, things just seem to fall together.”
Prock had to go through three straight Funny Car champions to earn a date with Tasca in the final round, dispatching of Cruz Pedregon, Ron Capps and Matt Hagan. He saved his best for last, however, laying down a 3.921 second pass in the final round, the best elapsed time of the weekend.
Prock, team adjust to more than just emotions
The change in mood wasn’t the only hurdle that Prock and his Cornwell Tools team had to overcome. Rain came through and delayed the event for nearly two hours between the second round and semi-finals. A significant weather change could rattle many teams, but crew chief Jimmy Prock, Austin’s father, and assistant crew chief Thomas Prock, Austin’s brother, were up to the task.
“I’m so proud of my dad and my brother and the whole team,” Austin Prock said. “I listen to them on the radio and they’re so confident, and their notebook is working so well right now.”
Success breeds success in the NHRA, as every run down the track gives teams data from which they can pull for different weather conditions, times of day, or other variables. Jimmy Prock’s success as crew chief for Robert Hight in recent years, gave him enough data that he was ready for anything the weather could throw at them. By continuing to go rounds on Sunday, Austin Prock said he has been able to learn more quickly than a driver who might be knocked out early in races more often.
“We’ve been going up and down the track, and getting more data because of that,” he said. “I’m still a rookie, and they’ve definitely sped my learning curve up by giving me the opportunity to go up and down the race track as much as we have.”
Austin Prock defeated Bob Tasca to win his fourth race of the season at Sunday’s playNHRA Virginia Nationals. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
Prock dedicates win to Force
After Sunday’s race, Force’s condition was still unknown, but Prock said he could not wait to talk to his car owner, and give him the Wally from the playNHRA Virginia Nationals. Prock said the win was dedicated to the man who gave him the chance to drive at the top levels of the NHRA.
“This trophy is definitely going back to him,” Prock said. “We wanted to get it done for John. I got my stuff together in the final round and I hit the tree good. I wanted to make John proud, and I hope he is. I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
After Force’s most recent win at the New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, he announced to media and fans that Prock would be taking over for him after his driving obligations were fulfilled, though he did not put a timeline on that transition.
Prock said he was frustrated with his driving in the second and third rounds, and had to talk himself into refocusing for the final round. His said his team was doing all it had to do to give him a chance and he did not want to be the weak link.
“We wanted to get it done for John,” Austin Prock said. “I tried to tell myself to get it together. I got my stuff together in the final round and I hit the tree. I wanted to make John proud and I hope he is. I am looking forward to seeing him.”
