In what was only his 3rd career NHRA nationals event start racing fuel Funny Cars, Austin Prock powered to his first career Funny Car win at Firebird Motorsports Park. Driving for John Force Racing, topped Alexis DeJoria in the final round in front of a sellout crowd at the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.
 
Prock, who was also the No. 1 qualifier, went 3.952-seconds at 320.74 mph in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to get past DeJoria in his second final round this season. After defeating Buddy Hull, Daniel Wilkerson and points leader J.R. Todd to reach the finals, Prock led wire-to-wire against DeJoria, becoming just the 19th driver in NHRA history to win in both Top Fuel and Funny Car.

It marked a memorable moment for Prock, especially winning with his father, Jimmy, as the crew chief, and his brother, Thomas, as the car chief.
 
“This is a huge win,” Prock said. “This car has been running great and we started the year out strong and struggled a little bit last week in Pomona. We had to get some revenge this weekend and we definitely did that. That was a great run in the final round there. That’s a run we were trying to do that all weekend long and just couldn’t piece it all together. For it all to finally come together to get my first Funny Car win means a lot.
 
“To enter that league (of winning in Top Fuel and Funny Car) with the Don Prudhommes, the Shawn Langdons, the J.R. Todds, the Kenny Bernsteins, who are legends and Hall of Famers, it’s pretty cool to be a part of that. To do it with my family makes it even more special. It was a beautiful day, a packed house and we’re rolling out of here with some gold. What more could you ask for?”

Prior to switching to the Funny Car class within John Force Racing in 2024 – Prock did earn 4 NHRA national event wins driving in Top Fuel dragsters.
 
DeJoria reached the finals for the first time this season thanks to round wins against Bob Tasca III, Paul Lee and Blake Alexander.

John Force – who had won the previous event (Lucas Oil Winternationals) rain delayed FC final round over Matt Hagan, also appeared in the Phoenix event’s Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Challenge event final round but was defeated in that showdown by JR Todd who won by a 3.974 secs 316.67 mph to 4.007 secs 320.87 mph margin. That was JR Todd’s second #2Fast2Tasty victory of 2024

Funny Car Racing Class Summary

WIN: Austin Prock – 3.952 secs 320.74 mph (Career win #5)

R/UP: Alexis DeJoria – 4.049 secs 316.90 mph

Low ET: Austin Prock – 3.840 secs

Top MPH: Bob Tasca III – 334.65 mph

Bump: 4.158 secs

Entries – 18 cars

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler

Photos by David Ostaszewski

Link to more Funny Car class photos from Phoenix in the LMLCMedia event gallery: HERE (Coming soon)