On a track on which his grandfather raced Funny Cars in the 1970s, Mission Foods point leader Austin Prock tries to enhance his own already impressive resume this week when he sends his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS after the winner’s trophy in the 12th NHRA New England Nationals.
“We’ve had a great Cornwell Tools Chevy the last three races and we’re looking to match that performance again this weekend,” said the 29-year-old who prepped for a drag racing career driving quarter-midgets, midgets and sprint cars. “I love the history at New England Dragway. My grandfather (Tom Prock) raced there in the ‘70s and fans have great stories about it (so) a win this week would be huge.”
In fact, a win would enable the reigning World Champion to scratch New England Dragway off the short list of tracks on which he has not yet celebrated a Mission Foods Series victory.
“I’m ready for this east coast swing,” Prock said, referencing not only this week’s race but two subsequent events at Bristol, Tenn., and Richmond, Va., in which he is the defending champion.
Although he earned NHRA Rookie of the Year honors at the wheel of a John Force Racing Top Fuel dragster (2019), the one-time crew member didn’t hit his stride until he slid into the seat of the Funny Car vacated by New England track record-holder Robert Hight to start the 2024 campaign.
In 26 races in the potent Chevy prepared by a Cornwell crew led by his dad Jimmy, brother Thomas and Nate Hildahl, Prock has started from the No. 1 qualifying position 16 times, has advanced to a like number of final rounds and won 10 of the NHRA’s unique Wally trophies.
Before chasing his first win in an event in which he was runner-up to boss and mentor John Force a year ago, Prock will join teammate Jack Beckman in Saturday’s Mission Foods 2Fast/2Tasty Challenge in which the semifinalists from the most recent event in the series get a do-over opportunity as part of the qualifying program.
This story was originally published on May 28, 2025. 
