NHRA’s Funny Car points leader Austin Prock powered to his first career victory at the U.S. Nationals, defeating back-to-back winner Ron Capps in the final round of the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Prock went 3.885-seconds at 327.98 mph in his JFR Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS in the final round, leaving the starting line first and holding off Capps’ 3.935.

It gives Prock his fifth victory this season, as he defeated Chris King, Alexis DeJoria and Blake Alexander to reach the finals, beating Capps to earn his ninth career victory.

It continues to be a remarkable dream season for Prock, who will now enter the Countdown to the Championship playoffs in the points lead and as a championship favorite. This weekend couldn’t have gone better for Prock, who was the No. 1 qualifier and followed it up with his first win at the world’s biggest drag race.

“We got our first U.S. Nationals win, super proud of the team. It was a great effort all weekend long,” Prock said. “Everyone talks about Indy, it’s the biggest race of the year, and it is. But all weekend long I treated it even less than a race, I kind of treated it as a test session and just tried to stay focused and race my own lane. That was good enough to get the job done this weekend. I’m very proud of the team. It still hasn’t hit me that we won the U.S. Nationals.

“So many people dream of winning this race and very few have. I’m very proud to add my name to that list with my dad (crew chief Jimmy), my brother Thomas turning the knobs with Nate Hildahl. It’s a pretty surreal moment. To cap off the regular season the way we did is very comforting. I don’t see us slowing down any time soon. People say when you’re hot, you’re hot and right now we’re hot and have been all year long.”

Capps, driving a special edition Don “Snake” Prudhomme commerative-body Toyota, just missed out on becoming the first Funny Car driver to win the U.S. Nationals three straight years. He had advanced to his 150th career final round and third this season on the strength of victories against J.R. Todd, Buddy Hull and Jack Beckman.

He moved to fifth in points, while Prock opens the Countdown to the Championship in the points lead.

Toyota U.S. Nationals Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Austin Prock – 3.885 secs 327.98 mph (Career win #9)
R/UP: Ron Capps – 3.935 secs 331.45 mph
Low ET: Jack Beckman – 3.842 secs
Top MPH: Bob Tasca III – 336.23 mph
Bump: 4.079 secs
Entries – 19 cars

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos by Dave DeAngelis & Steve Embling

View more Funny Car class photos at the LMLCMedia event gallery: HERE