As one of the sons of multi-time NHRA Funny Car world champion tuner Jimmy Prock , five-year Top Fuel veteran and former sprint car driver Austin Prock has been around Funny Cars his whole life . When it comes to driving one , though , he was admittedly inexperienced in that department going into the PRO Superstar Shootout . But over the course of the week , Prock went through a crash course that included several tire-smoking attempts in testing , qualifying No . 1 , and winning the race .

It was announced on January 16th , just three weeks before PRO Superstar Shootout testing began , that Prock would take over the driving duties of Robert Hight ’ s Cornwell Tools / AAA Chevy Camaro SS Funny Car to start the 2024 season . The three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion and president of John Force Racing cited personal health reasons for his unexpected move to the sidelines .

The unfortunate circumstances for Hight created a dream scenario for Prock to drive a Funny Car and do so with his family . His father , Jimmy , and brother , Thomas , continue to serve as the cocrew chiefs of the car , along with Nate Hildahl .

“ First off , all the best wishes to Robert and his health . It ’ s been a dream of mine to drive a Funny Car with my family , but this is not the way I hoped it would happen . It ’ s bittersweet ,” Prock said at the time of the announcement . “ I ’ m grateful for the opportunity and thankful to John and all of our partners , especially Cornwell Tools , AAA , and Chevy for giving me a chance to fill this seat . It ’ s a huge role to fill considering how outstanding of a driver Robert is and how successful this team is . It ’ s been a whirlwind of an offseason , so I ’ m just ready to get back to racing .”

The Procks arrived at Bradenton Motorsports Park with the goal of getting Austin as much seat time as possible during the two and a half days of testing leading up to Thursday ’ s first qualifying session . The first few runs were met with near-instant tire smoke – not exactly unexpected on the first day of preseason testing . But after seven consecutive attempts that had Prock lifting before he reached the 60-foot cone , everyone was understandably frustrated . The team pulled together and ripped off a championship-caliber number on Thursday morning .

“ We struggled the first two days of testing and got thrown a lot of different scenarios and had to learn really fast ,” Prock said . “ The third day of testing we finally got it all together and I finally got to go to the finish line . My first full pull was a 3.84 at almost 337 MPH . These things are a handful . I ’ m having to learn quick because this car is capable of winning . I can ’ t be the weak link .”

Prock ’ s body language changed after that first full rip . The quietly nervous Funny Car newcomer who paced the starting line on Wednesday night disappeared , and in his place was the typically confident , naturally talented wheelman . It was apparent he was ready to take on 11 worldclass Funny Car drivers in qualifying .

Kicking off the first session , the Cornwell Tools / AAA Camaro SS immediately went to the No . 3 spot with a 3.851 at 331.77 . Prock struggled a bit in Friday ’ s first two of three sessions in the heat , with runs of 4.108 and 4.952 . Were the gremlins from testing back ?

No , Prock answered in the fourth session , when he steered the “ Prock Rocket ” to a 3.825 at 337.41 to take the No . 1 spot away from Bob Tasca III and his 341-MPH Mustang . He picked up a $ 10,000 No . 1 qualifier bonus from Lucas Oil , but more strategically important , he was also the only diver with guaranteed lane choice going into the random chip draw .

“ Before we even rolled up there , my dad said we ’ re going for it because it ’ s the only way we ’ re going to absolutely get lane choice ,” Prock said backstage at the chip draw on Friday night . “ With the chip draw , if you were No . 2 , you wouldn ’ t

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Drag Illustrated Issue 187, March / April 2024 | Page 107