SIDEBAR - GEN4 PROCK READY TO ROCK

By Susan Wade    Sat, 2019-02-09 12:23

 Austin Prock, the only first-time starter in this year’s NHRA professional ranks, is not as new to drag racing as some might think. The 23-year-old Top Fuel rookie represents the fourth generation of his family to excel in motorsports. “Excel” might sound odd, considering he hasn’t completed his first competitive elimination round. To excel means to accomplish something extraordinary – and he has, despite making his first laps in the Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist Dragster less than a week ago.

Prock has owned a Funny Car license since last summer. But he earned his Super Comp license at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School, and with guidance from Anthony Dicero, he has the credentials to compete in the Top Alcohol Dragster class. But he’ll start the year in a brand-new John Force Racing chassis as teammate to 2017 class champion Brittany Force, the driver for whom he used to prepare superchargers. Jon Schaffer and Ronnie Thompson are his crew chiefs.

He completed his licensing pass in a dragster earlier this week at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park at Chandler, Ariz.

“Obviously, it was a good thing we made the trip out to testing, even if we did arrive late and have to put in overtime to be ready,” Prock said. “Everyone did their part to have us ready for Pomona. [John] Force and Robert [Hight] worked the sponsorship side, and I got more laps under my belt.”

His first attempt at the suburban Phoenix racetrack resulted in tire smoke immediately. However, Prock followed that with a few eighth-mile passes this past Saturday and Sunday.

“Jon and Ronnie are happy with what learned at testing. It will be a great season. Our main goal is to have fun and the results will come. We’re just grateful to be a part of this 2019 Mello Yello Series,” Prock said.

“I’m very excited,” said the son of championship crew chief Jimmy Prock, grandson of driving pioneer and crew chief Tom Prock, and great grandson of midget racer / race-car builder / champ-car riding mechanic Jim Prock.  “I’m ready to get my professional drag racing career started with Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist. I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work but I’m confident.

“I don’t have a lot of nerves. I’m not really that nervous. I’ve got John Force, Don Prudhomme, and all of JFR in my corner, that believe in me. I’m going to have fun while I’m out here,” Austin Prock said. “I get to be out with my family, continue the family trade and represent a legendary team. What more could I ask for?”

Like Robert Hight and Eric Medlen before him, Prock worked as a crew member. He began as a member of Courtney Force’s Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro Funny Car team, then worked on superchargers for Brittany Force’s Top Fuel team.

He was prepared to drive in either nitro class. Both 11,000-horsepower race cars are new to him, but Prock said he learned quickly that “the dragster is quite a bit different than the Funny Car. The dragster accelerates a lot quicker. When I tested, I was able to keep it right down the groove. And the guys seemed confident about what I was able to do. I’m excited to get going this weekend.”

After all, he started driving a race car at age 10. He earned his first victory before his 12th birthday, and in 2012, he was named the National Pavement Midget Rookie of the Year. The following year, Prock was the Bob Tattersall Hard Charger of the Year honoree. In 2014, his first year racing a full  schedule, Prock was the STARS National Pavement Midget Champion after winning four races. He moved on the next year to Dirt Sprint Cars and won in his seventh start. He finished his circle-track career with 27 victories and 84 top-five finishes in 139 races.

 

 

 

 
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