The wait is over for back-to-back NHRA Funny Car world champion Austin Prock, as the standout won for the first time in 2026 in front of a huge crowd at Maryland International Raceway, defeating John Force Racing’s Jack Beckman in the final round of the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS.

Prock went 3.956-seconds at 324.20-mph in his 12,000-horsepower PPG Ford Mustang, holding off Beckman’s 3.971 at 323.50. It is Prock’s 22nd career win, but the first since leaving John Force Racing in the off-season after two straight world titles and joining Tasca Racing.

Prock’s family, including tuners Jimmy and Thomas Prock, came with him, but there were early-season struggles as they didn’t qualify at Gainesville to open the year and failed to win a round at the first five races. But the team showed signs in Chicago, advancing to the semifinals, and then had a massive weekend at MIR, starting with Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory.

On Sunday, he got past four-time world champ Matt Hagan, Spencer Hyde and points leader Ron Capps to reach the final round. Prock left first on Beckman and led wire-to-wire with his best run of the weekend, putting a stamp on the race and perhaps signaling the start of what could be another big year.

“It means a lot,” Prock said. “It’s like winning your first race all over again, because all of the work that we put in and everything that we learned. So, to be seven races in and win the Mission Challenge this weekend and win the diamond Wally, I think it says a lot about this race team and what we’re capable of. I’m just very proud of this whole Ford Racing team. It was a great weekend, but this is just the beginning of the new era of the Prock Rocket.
 
“As a competitor, you’re just kind of beat down, and then the race car started coming alive again, and I felt like I was behind the race car at times, where the race car was performing better than I was. After (Chicago), I was really, really hard on myself after the semifinals. I didn’t leave good enough to even put us in contention. I wanted to come in here this weekend and prove to myself that I’ve still got it, and I feel like I did that.”
 

Beckman reached his second final of 2026 and the 79th in his career, taking down Joe Morrison, J.R. Todd and teammate Jordan Vandergriff. Capps leads Todd by 16 points, with Chad Green in third.

NHRA Potomac Nationals – Funny Car Class Summary

WIN: Austin Prock – 3.956 secs 324.20 mph (Career win #22)
R/UP: Jack Beckman – 3.971 secs 323.50 mph
Low ET: Jack Beckman – 3.923 secs
Top MPH: Jack Beckman – 328.22 mph
Bump: 10.87 secs
Entries: 16

Posted with files by NHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler

Photos by Dave DeAngelis

Link to more FC photos from this event included to our LMLC Media Photo Gallery: HERE