Despite losing a massive 348-point lead to the NHRA pencil in advance of the playoffs, Austin Prock will roll the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS onto the all-concrete surface at zMax Dragway this week as the overwhelming favorite to win not just the 16th NHRA Carolina Nationals, but the Funny Car World Championship, as well.
Driving a Chevy tuned by his dad, Jimmy, and maintained by a Cornwell crew that includes his brother, Thomas, the 29-year-old has enjoyed a storybook season since sliding into the seat temporarily vacated by three-time World Champion Robert Hight.
He’s started the blue-and-black Camaro from the No. 1 qualifying position in 11 of 15 NHRA tour events, taken it to the final round nine times and won six races including the Labor Day U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis and last week’s Reading Nationals in the first race in the Countdown to the Championship.
“I’m excited to roll into Charlotte,” said the 2019 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year and Top Fuel winner at the 2023 Charlotte 4Wide. “It’s one of our nicest venues and always a pleasure to race at. Coming off a win, we have some good energy and momentum (and) I’m looking for another strong performance from this Cornwell Tools team.”
Although he is within striking distance of a single season record that once seemed unapproachable – boss and mentor John Force’s 13 No. 1 starts in a season (1996), Prock’s focus is solely on winning the championship.
“We want to go out there and run low ET every round and we want to win every race,” he said. “If you’re competitive and a racer, that’s what you expect.”
However, few have come as close to realizing those expectations as has former quarter midget and sprint car driver in a campaign that began with a victory in the pre-season PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton, Fla. He followed with NHRA winners’ circle appearances at Phoenix, Bristol, Tenn., Richmond, Va., and Seattle, Wash.
How dominant has he been? Well, he’s won 80 percent of his two-car matches (38-9), posted quick time of the event on 10 separate occasions and, last week, accelerated the Chevy to a career best finish line speed of 338.43 miles per hour, fastest of the weekend.
Although his car has been dominant, Prock has driven like he’s been in a Funny Car all his life instead of just for 16 races.
“That was the best driving performance I’ve probably had in my career,” Prock said of his victory at Indy in drag racing’s biggest single event. “You know, from doing the burnout perfectly straight, to staging, to leaving the starting line (on time), to keeping the thing in the groove, run-after-run. I was on the money.
“That felt really good,” he said, “and, you know, that’s kind of the performance I expect out of myself, and that’s what I want to have these next races. That’s what it’s going to take to win this championship.”
This story was originally published on September 19, 2024. 
