Drag Illustrated has confirmed through multiple rock-solid sources that reigning two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Austin Prock, along with his father and crew chief Jimmy Prock and brother/assistant crew chief Thomas Prock, have informed John Force Racing of their departure. The situation represents one of the most stunning developments in modern drag racing – a seismic shift involving the sport’s most dominant Funny Car group and its brightest young star.
Official word from John Force Racing has not yet been released. Drag Illustrated reached out to JFR’s PR team, John Force himself, Jimmy Prock, and others within the organization, but none have issued a comment or statement at this time.
While the Procks have remained silent publicly, numerous individuals across the industry – from team owners to veteran drivers to sponsorship partners – quickly confirmed the information when contacted. Interestingly, several others expressed complete surprise, noting they “hadn’t heard anything” or “had no idea” the move was happening. One major sponsorship partner contacted by DI reported they “had not heard anything,” underscoring how locked-down the situation appears to have been.
At least three independent, well-placed sources tell Drag Illustrated that a replacement driver for Prock has already been contacted by JFR, suggesting the organization is moving quickly behind the scenes.
Additionally, several insiders indicated that many within the industry had heard rumblings as early as last weekend’s rain-plagued NHRA Finals in Pomona. Social media commentary following the awards ceremony – where Prock delivered his championship speech – added further intrigue, with fans describing the moment as “awkward” or “tense,” though it’s impossible to assign concrete meaning to something as subjective as onstage body language.
Even so, the scope of the move is extraordinary. Austin Prock has been publicly described by John Force as the “future of John Force Racing,” and his on-track results have backed that up. The Prock-led operation has been the most successful, consistent, and outright dominant Funny Car team in recent memory.
Just in the past two seasons, Austin Prock delivered:
– Back-to-back NHRA Funny Car world championships (2024 and 2025)
– 18 wins, including the U.S. Nationals, multiple Four-Wide Nationals titles, and numerous Countdown victories
– Over 20 No. 1 qualifiers across two seasons
– Career-best performances including the first 340+ mph run in Funny Car history
– 2024 Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge championship
– National Dragster “Pro Driver of the Year” honors
– Crew chiefs Jimmy and Thomas Prock recognized collectively as Pro Tuners of the Year
The timeline of the split, according to sources, began early on Friday, November 21, when the Procks formally notified John Force Racing of their intentions. Within hours, word began spreading among certain teams, while others remained completely unaware until DI’s initial report broke the news publicly Friday night.
As for what comes next, sources indicate the Procks already have a landing spot secured. All signs point to Bob Tasca III expanding his program to include a second Funny Car, with Jimmy and Thomas Prock joining the operation in crew chief roles. When contacted for comment, Tasca would not confirm or deny, but stated that his team would be announcing its plans for 2026 in mid-January.
On the John Force Racing side, Drag Illustrated has learned the team had already planned to announce the addition of a new Funny Car driver within the next two weeks – likely timed around the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis – though the team has not responded to requests for comment.
What is clear is that this story is still developing. It is also without question one of the most consequential moves in modern nitro racing. A champion driver and the sport’s most successful tuning family walking away from the largest, most decorated team in NHRA history is a moment that will reshape the 2026 season and the broader landscape of the Funny Car category for years to come.
Drag Illustrated will continue to follow the situation closely and update as official statements and additional information become available.
This story was originally published on November 22, 2025. 
