Austin Prock’s Powerful Return to Funny Car Dominance

Austin Prock entered the 2025 NHRA season as the reigning Funny Car champion, carrying high hopes and the weight of big expectations. His campaign started with a run of consistent performances, quickly reminding fans why he’s considered one of drag racing’s brightest stars.

Throughout the first part of the year, Prock’s focus was visible both on the track and in the pit, as he worked closely with his team to find new ways to stay ahead of tough competition. One of his biggest rivals is his own teammate, Jack Beckman, who continues to push the entire group to perform at the highest level.

After taking over the Funny Car previously driven by veteran Robert Hight, Prock faced early questions about whether he could match past results. In 2024, he was eliminated in round two at Route 66 Raceway, the only race in the car where he has not made at least the semifinals.

Despite that, Prock remained upbeat about returning to Joliet. He looked forward to racing at the home track for sponsors and said spending time with partners like PEAK and OWI added another layer of excitement to the event.

During the 2025 season, Prock showed strong form at the prestigious four-wide events. He collected back-to-back wins at Las Vegas and Charlotte, padding his season resume and confirming his ability to adapt to varied race formats.

In addition, Prock set two remarkable records in the last year. He made the fastest run ever by a Funny Car at 341.68 miles per hour in Pomona, California, and unofficially recorded a time of 3.791 seconds in testing at Florida, which stands as the quickest Funny Car pass to date. For more details on NHRA speed records, check out the NHRA official records page.

Prock’s career has developed quickly since he earned NHRA Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 while driving for John Force Racing. Over his last 23 starts, he has captured 10 victories and compiled a remarkable 59-13 record in elimination rounds.

Much of this success is down to the hard work of his crew, led by his father Jimmy Prock, his brother Thomas Prock, and teammate Nate Hildahl. The group works long hours preparing the car and constantly making adjustments to stay at the front of the pack.

Looking ahead to Chicago and the rest of the season, Prock and his team remain focused on their goal of staying at the top of the points standings. Each race presents a new challenge, and the Route 66 Nationals are a highlight for both drivers and fans, with high speeds and tight competition expected.

With every pass down the track, Prock’s drive to maintain his position as the Funny Car champion is clear. The next few events will be important in determining if he can extend his reign or if new challengers will break through.

Prock’s journey is one to watch as the NHRA season unfolds, promising plenty of action for drag racing enthusiasts. For more insights into drag racing history and evolution, visit the Smithsonian’s Motorsports Collection.

Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.