Reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock earned his third win of the season Sunday, defeating teammate Jack Beckman in the final round of the Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park.
The victory marked Prock’s second straight at the facility and 15th career triumph in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Joining Prock atop the winner’s stage was Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Though Shawn Langdon was declared the winner in Top Fuel, the final round is under review by NHRA.
Prock ran 4.061 seconds at 318.02 mph in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to edge Beckman at the stripe. The win came after he beat Cruz Pedregon, Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd earlier in eliminations.
“A lot of emotion for sure,” Prock said. “Getting to win last year, that was huge and being able to take the Wally to John as a team, that’s what we wanted to do again today, and I’m happy that we could go back-to-back and get the job done for him.”
Prock’s latest victory came one year after winning at the same track during a weekend overshadowed by John Force’s high-speed crash. The emotional weight of the event was not lost on Prock.
“The trophy’s going home with him,” Prock added. “He won’t take it off my hand, but it’s definitely going back with him.”
Prock, now holding a 60-point lead in the standings, acknowledged Force’s lasting impact on the sport. “This sport is not the same without John Force,” he said. “We’re very blessed to have him at the racetrack.”
Beckman, who remains second in the points race, reached his third final of the year and 75th career by beating Jim Campbell, Paul Lee and Daniel Wilkerson.
NHRA has not confirmed the Top Fuel final round was under review, but all references about it, including Langdon’s trophy shot has been removed. CompetitionPlus.com has reached out to NHRA, but has not received a statement as of this posting at 10:30 PM, EST. NHRA has said on its website, the issue is a possible rules infraction.
Herrera secured his third Pro Stock Motorcycle victory of the year and 24th of his career by overtaking Angie Smith with a 6.826 at 198.79 mph run. Smith left the line first and ran 6.853 at 196.76 but couldn’t hold off the defending champ.
Herrera, who has won every race this season from 2023 onward, reached the final by knocking out Ron Tornow, Steve Johnson, and No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis. The win extended his points lead to 100 over Matt Smith.
“I almost fumbled there in the final with my light,” Herrera said. “A 150-degree track is just insane but NHRA did a phenomenal job and Andrew [Hines] had my bike consistent all day.”
“I’m having a lot of fun,” he added. “Racing is all about competition, and that’s what drives me.”
Smith reached her first final of the year and 10th of her career with wins over Dystany Spurlock, Matt Smith, and Richard Gadson.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series resumes June 26-29 at the Norwalk Nationals in Ohio.
