Austin Prock’s grip on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway showed no signs of loosening Friday night, as the Funny Car points leader delivered another statement run — and pocketed a little extra cash in the process.
Prock powered his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to a 3.895-second pass at 334.48 mph during the second session of qualifying at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection. The run not only earned him the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot but also the $3,500 “Ted Wiens Trick or Traction Award,” presented to the quickest driver of the session.
It was the latest in a growing list of Friday night successes for the 29-year-old driver, who continues to thrive under pressure. His Las Vegas performance marks the seventh time this season he has led the qualifying order and puts him in position for his third consecutive win at the famed Nevada facility.
“We’ve had a lot of success here, and coming back for the Countdown is exciting for us,” Prock said. “We got the win here last year and pretty much locked up the title, so hopefully we can do that again this weekend. We came in looking for more points and we earned all of them today — No. 1 qualifier and low ET both rounds. You can’t ask for anything more out of this team.”
Prock’s dominance on Friday nights has become somewhat of a calling card for John Force Racing. Whether the incentive is a cash bonus or bragging rights, the Cornwell Tools team seems to always deliver.
“Anytime they throw up a little extra cash or some sort of bonus, this team snatches it up,” Prock said. “Dave [Hart publicist] told me last night there was going to be a little extra money on the line, and anytime there’s more incentive to go do a good job, you take it. It’s really cool to reward the team for all their hard work.”
Prock’s steady hand and his team’s consistent approach have proven pivotal as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series nears its conclusion. With just two events remaining, including the season finale at Pomona, every point — and every run — carries championship implications.
Hagan, second in the standings, sits right behind with a 3.897 at 329.75 mph in his Dodge Direct Connection Charger SRT Hellcat. Rookie Spencer Hyde followed with a 3.917 at 324.75 mph, continuing to impress in his debut season. But for now, all eyes remain on Prock, who appears to be peaking at exactly the right moment.
“No, I don’t think there’s any special trick to it,” Prock said. “Every time I get in the race car, I just try to do the best I can and hope it’s good enough. We’ve got a great hot rod, but I still need to shape up a bit on my reaction times. I was a little tardy today, which I’m not happy about, but it doesn’t really matter much on a Friday. I’ll get it together — I’ve got two more days to figure it out.”
Las Vegas’ dry desert air has a way of draining both man and machine, but Prock said the team is staying focused on the bigger picture. “This place kicks my butt,” he admitted with a laugh. “The air is so dry it wipes me out, but I’ll get some rest and grab a Monster. We’ve got more work to do tomorrow.”
The Strip has long been a favorite venue for Prock, who earned one of the biggest wins of his career here last fall when he and John Force Racing teammate John Force shared the winner’s circle.
“Last year was really cool,” Prock said. “It was John’s first race back, and anytime you can double up as a team is special. It’s very hard to do, and to pull that off with him back for the first time made it even more meaningful. Hopefully we can do that again this weekend with him in attendance.”
Now, with a chance to repeat both the Vegas sweep and another championship run, Prock knows the stakes are as high as ever. The Countdown to the Championship has tested even the most composed competitors, but the young driver seems intent on keeping things simple.
“This countdown is so stressful,” Prock said. “It’s a hell of a lot less stressful if you can go into Pomona and breathe a little. You don’t feel like you’re behind the eight-ball. We’ve started about as good as we could, and now we’ve just got to finish the job.”
The performance also adds to the legend of his crew chief — and father — Jimmy Prock, whose tuning mastery has helped propel the team to consistent success. Assistant crewchiefs Thomas Prock (his brother) and Nathan Hildahl are also quickly developing reputations of their own.
“Like I said last weekend, that’s an OG Jim Prock move right there,” Austin said. “Not many crew chiefs can say they roll into a weekend and go low ET eight for eight. When he does that, he’s got a pep in his step — and when he’s got that, we’re dangerous.”
With momentum, money, and morale all swinging in his favor, Prock appears poised to close out the season the same way he’s handled Las Vegas — on top.
“This car and this team just love Vegas,” Prock said. “We’ve been fast, we’ve been consistent, and we’ve been smart. If we can keep that up for two more days, we’ll make some noise — and hopefully, we’ll be taking another trophy down Ken Black Way come Sunday.”
