Humorous Automotive’s Austin Prock clinched his first profession world championship on Saturday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, securing the world title for John Power Racing throughout qualifying on the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
Prock completed because the No. 1 qualifier with a track-record run of three.804s at 334.57mph to shut out the day in his AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS, making the quickest run in Humorous Automotive since 2017 and the fourth-quickest at school historical past. It’s one other magical second in what has been an unbelievable and dominant first 12 months in Humorous Automotive for the younger standout.
He has put collectively one of the crucial spectacular Humorous Automotive seasons in historical past, profitable eight races up to now and clinching his fifteenth No. 1 qualifier, essentially the most in a single season in Humorous Automotive historical past. Prock has been simply as terrific within the Countdown to the Championship, culminating in his first world title and a magical second in his younger profession.
“I’ve been working in direction of this for 19 years,” Prock mentioned. “I began driving race vehicles once I was 10 years previous and all I might consider was being knowledgeable race automobile driver in any method and profitable the world championship, and we obtained it executed this 12 months. The primary job is completed, lastly, however we would like 9 wins earlier than we finish this 2024 season, and we positively have the new rod to do it proper now.
“This factor’s been on kill this weekend, and in the previous couple of years, this race automobile hasn’t carried out all that nicely right here in Pomona, however all the celebs are aligning proper now. We made three actually, actually fast runs and I’m doing an excellent job retaining it in the course of the groove right here.”
Prock, who had beforehand raced in High Gas, profitable 4 occasions and being named Rookie of the Yr in 2019, obtained the chance to affix his father, multi-time championship crew chief Jimmy Prock, and his brother, Thomas, on the John Power Racing Cornwell Instruments Humorous Automotive staff after its regular driver, thee-time world champ Robert Hight, was sidelined for medical causes earlier than the season began.
A. Prock made his presence recognized virtually instantly, scoring a runner-up in Gainesville and amassing his first Humorous Automotive victory in Phoenix.
He held the factors lead for the majority of the season, taking the lead for good after ending as runner-up to Power in Epping. Prock was the near-perfect driver to match a quick scorching rod, rating second at school common for response occasions whereas finishing almost 80 % of all runs underneath energy.
Prock loved success within the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Problem and ran nicely in virtually any climate situations, selecting up victories in Bristol, Richmond and Seattle within the common season. He additionally received the celebrated NHRA U.S. Nationals for the primary time in his profession this 12 months, rolling to playoff wins in Studying and Charlotte following that.
He loved 14 straight spherical wins at that time within the season, taking a commanding lead down the stretch of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Prock adopted with a victory in Las Vegas – a part of a JFR double-up with Brittany Power – and completed the job in qualifying in Pomona.
Now, Prock has an opportunity to cement his 12 months as arguably the perfect in latest historical past. Solely 5 drivers in NHRA historical past have received eight or extra occasions earlier than this season and Prock nonetheless has the chance to win a ninth nationwide occasion, a feat that hasn’t been executed since Power did it in 2000 with 11.
“I used to be nervous coming into this weekend, however every thing’s simply working proper, similar to it has all 12 months,” Prock mentioned. “We’re trying ahead to tomorrow. We’re going to perform a little little bit of celebrating tonight, however we’ll all be able to go within the morning and attempt to go for that ninth Wally.”
Eliminations for the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals start at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
