NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Austin Prock was in a Top Fuel dragster two years ago at Virginia Motorsports Park, but at this weekend’s PlayNHRA Virginia NHRA Nationals, he’ll be looking for his third Funny Car win of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, is new to the Funny Car class this season, but his predecessor, Robert Hight, won at Virginia Motorsports Park in 2022, the last time NHRA raced in Richmond. Prock has already seen success in the Funny Car class as he has two wins on the season, including most recently in Bristol, and has been the No. 1 qualifier at six of the first eight races en route to the points lead.

That gives the young standout and former NHRA Rookie of the Year plenty of momentum heading into his Funny Car debut at the standout facility.
 
“Richmond is one of the flattest tracks on the circuit, which will be much appreciated by the tuners with this weekend’s temperatures,” Prock said. “I always say I never like an off weekend, and I’m excited to get back into my Cornwell Quality Tools Camaro SS and get back in the groove of things. We’re looking for another strong weekend.”
 
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Hight (Funny Car), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Richmond in 2022, and this year’s event will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 23. It is the ninth of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season.
 
New this year at the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals is a two-day schedule for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Teams will have three rounds of qualifying on Saturday with race day on Sunday, and the unique format will have teams forming new strategies for the weekend.
 
Prock is also part of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, which makes its Virginia Motorsports Park debut this weekend. The bonus race adds a bonus purse and bonus championship points and makes for a busy Saturday leading into eliminations. 

 
Prock will meet up with defending world champ and Virginia native Matt Hagan, while John Force will rematch with J.R. Todd. The Top Fuel ranks will see Bristol winner Tony Schumacher against Clay Millican and reigning champion Doug Kalitta taking on Brittany Force. The Pro Stock class will be a rematch of teammates with Elite Motorsports’ Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin on one side of the ladder and KB Titan Racing’s Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn on the other. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera will take on Matt Smith, while Jianna Evaristo will race Richard Gadson.
 
In Bristol, Prock swept the entire weekend, qualifying No. 1, winning the specialty event and then the race on Saturday. He’ll get a chance to do that again this weekend, taking on a class that also features Bob Tasca III, Alexis DeJoria, and Ron Capps, with everything taking place over the course of two days.
 
“I’m excited to get to Richmond,” Prock said. “We’ve got a two-day show this weekend with three qualifying passes on Saturday and our race day on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how the fans and competitors take in the new format.”

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features three rounds of action on Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. ET, with eliminations beginning at noon on Sunday, June 23. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday. Finals coverage starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday on FS1.
 
To purchase tickets to the PlayNHRA Virginia Nationals on June 21-23 at Virginia Motorsports Park, visit https://nhra.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general-admission area with a paid adult.