Prock gets redemption at Stampede of Speed, wins Texas NHRA Fall Nationals
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio
ENNIS, Texas — NHRA Funny Car driver Austin Prock came to Texas looking for redemption — and he left with a cowboy hat, a Wally and a little more breathing room in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
Austin Prock won the NHRA Funny Car race on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
After last year’s heartbreak in the semifinals, the NHRA Funny Car standout stampeded to victory Sunday at the 40th annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, winning for the first time at the historic all-concrete facility. Prock defeated three-time world champion Ron Capps in the final round, clocking a 3.959-second run at 328.30 mph in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS.
Capps’ final was over almost as soon as it began when his parachutes deployed about 100 feet into the run. He crossed the line in 4.405 seconds at 199.80 mph, handing Prock his ninth win of the season and the 21st of his career. The victory also extended Prock’s points lead in the Countdown to the Championship with only two events remaining at Las Vegas and Pomona.
“Friday night, I said we’re going to be counting wins — and we went out there and won,” Prock said. “All our cards fell right today, and we were able to extend our points lead. I’m really proud of this team. After a tough Q1, we regrouped and were low ET every time down the track after that. That’s an OG Jimmy Prock move — go out there and take it all.”
Austin Prock celebrates after winning the NHRA Funny Car race on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals held at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
The 29-year-old from Indiana had one of the most consistent cars on the property all weekend. After qualifying No. 1, Prock ripped off a string of strong runs — 3.867, 3.939, 3.963 and 3.959 — to secure his first career victory at the famed Texas Motorplex. Along the way, he defeated Blake Alexander, Spencer Hyde, and Chad Green before taking out Capps in the finals.
Capps, meanwhile, reached his fifth final of the season with wins over Alex Laughlin, Cruz Pedregon, and Daniel Wilkerson. He survived a wild semifinal where his engine blew up in the previous round, forcing his team into a thrash after the second round. In the semifinals matchup, Capps scored a holeshot win over Wilkerson with a 4.019 at 315.81 mph to Wilkerson’s quicker 3.983 at 325.73 mph, winning by just nine feet.
Daniel Wilkerson on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
For Prock, Sunday’s win erased the sting of last year’s semifinal loss and solidified his bid for a second consecutive world championship. His triumph pushed his lead over Matt Hagan to 112 points, as Hagan’s title hopes took a major hit following a stunning first-round loss to Paul Lee. Jack Beckman sits third, 131 points behind.
“We did get redemption,” Prock said. “It feels good to get my first win at Dallas and sweep the weekend — take all the cash, grab the cowboy hat, no better way to do it. The mindset is the same. The most wins in these last three races is going to crown the world champion, and we knocked one off. Our car usually runs really well in Las Vegas, and I’ve got all the faith in the world in this team.”
The victory was extra satisfying given the conditions. Temperatures soared into the mid-90s on race day — unusual for October in North Texas — making traction tricky and testing both driver and crew.
“You know, it’s crazy how long this place has been here and how good the surface still is,” Prock said. “They built this track right back in the ’80s. It’s all concrete, and we don’t race anywhere else quite like it. But man, it was hot. When you win in the heat, you earn it — you’re tired, sweating, no time to eat — but it makes it feel even better when you’re wearing that cowboy hat at the end of the day.”
Ron Capps on Sunday at the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. (NHRA photo)
Prock credited his crew — including father and crew chief Jimmy Prock, brother Thomas, and co-crew chief Nate Hildahl — for maintaining their edge through a challenging Countdown stretch.
“I get gassed up when this thing rips like it does,” he said. “We weren’t just low ET; we were low ET by a lot in most sessions. That gives you confidence behind the wheel. My dad and brother and Nate do such a good job. To put it all together and put a cowboy hat on at the end of the day feels damn good.”
As dominant as 2024 was for Prock’s John Force Racing team, he believes this year’s success has been even more rewarding. “Last year, our car would do whatever we wanted — it was just forgiving,” he said. “This year, you look at it wrong and it wants to smoke the tires. But we already have more wins now than last year. That says a lot about our crew chiefs and our team. They give me a perfect race car every time.”
Austin Prock, Funny Car No. 1 qualifier. (NHRA photo)
The win also came on a symbolic weekend — one year after John Force’s return to a dragstrip, a milestone that Prock acknowledged with gratitude. “It was Force’s first race back, and we had to finish on Monday last year. Me and Brittany doubled up, then I went to SEMA and announced a new three-year deal with Cornwell Tools. It couldn’t have been a better time. Now we’ve got momentum again going into Vegas.”
Prock said that he knows the championship fight isn’t over.
“The job’s not finished,” Prock said. “A 112-point lead can swing the other way fast. We’ve got to go win another one, plain and simple. But all you can ask for is to come in and extend your points lead every weekend — even if it’s by one point. We did a lot better than that today.”
ENNIS, Texas — Final finish order (1-16) at the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. The race is the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Media Center Interview:
TOP FUEL:
- Doug Kalitta; 2. Steve Torrence; 3. Shawn Langdon; 4. Brittany Force; 5. Ida Zetterstrom; 6. Justin Ashley; 7. Shawn Reed; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Tony Stewart; 10. Josh Hart; 11. Doug Foley; 12. Antron Brown; 13. Tony Schumacher; 14. Jasmine Salinas; 15. Mitch King; 16. Kyle Satenstein.
FUNNY CAR:
- Austin Prock; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Daniel Wilkerson; 4. Chad Green; 5. Jack Beckman; 6. Cruz Pedregon; 7. Spencer Hyde; 8. Paul Lee; 9. Matt Hagan; 10. Alexis DeJoria; 11. Blake Alexander; 12. Dave Richards; 13. Bob Tasca III; 14. Alex Laughlin; 15. Terry Haddock; 16. J.R. Todd.
PRO STOCK:
- Dallas Glenn; 2. Aaron Stanfield; 3. Greg Anderson; 4. Jeg Coughlin; 5. Cory Reed; 6. Deric Kramer; 7. Eric Latino; 8. Matt Hartford; 9. Erica Enders; 10. Cody Coughlin; 11. David Cuadra; 12. Matt Latino; 13. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 14. Chris Vang; 15. Stephen Bell; 16. Greg Stanfield.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
- Richard Gadson; 2. Brayden Davis; 3. Gaige Herrera; 4. Matt Smith; 5. John Hall; 6. Angie Smith; 7. Clayton Howey; 8. Steve Johnson; 9. Kelly Clontz; 10. Jianna Evaristo; 11. Ryan Oehler; 12. Chase Van Sant; 13. Marc Ingwersen; 14. Lance Bonham; 15. Chris Bostick; 16. Charles Poskey.
ENNIS, Texas — Sunday’s final results from the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex. The race is the 18th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.777 seconds, 333.04 mph def. Steve Torrence, 3.874 seconds, 317.46 mph.
Funny Car — Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.959, 328.30 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 4.405, 199.80.
Pro Stock — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.605, 208.89 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.622, 208.75.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.796, 200.37 def. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.817, 200.34.
Top Alcohol Dragster — Joey Severance, 5.470, 208.03 def. Jon Bradford, Foul – Red Light.
Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.528, 267.36 def. Stan Sipos, Camaro, 5.893, 250.70.
Competition Eliminator — Jeff Taylor, Dragster, 7.049, 152.28 def. Joe Carnasciale, Chevy Cavalier, 9.612, 148.28.
Super Stock — Darrell Stobbe, Chevy Chevelle, 10.260, 126.75 def. Harvey Emmons III, Chevy Cavalier, 9.496, 124.70.
Stock Eliminator — Jerry Emmons, Chevy Camaro, 10.513, 117.67 def. Doug Lambeck, Camaro, 10.148, 126.88.
Super Comp — Wayne Landry, Dragster, 8.913, 178.46 def. Thomas Marlow, Dragster, 8.975, 162.78.
Super Gas — Trisha Owens, Chevy Corvette, 9.919, 157.45 def. Bill Dennis, Cadillac XLR, 9.914, 162.33.
Super Street — James Gonzales, Chevy Vega Wagon, 10.921, 121.62 def. Jimmy Denham, Chevy S-10, 10.893, 126.90.
Top Sportsman — Doug Crumlich, Chevy Corvette, 6.639, 193.05 def. Bradley Johnson, Cobalt, 6.641, 212.37.
Top Dragster — Blake Peavler, Dragster, 6.206, 230.26 def. Michael Kile, Dragster, 6.145, 208.57.
Factory X — Lenny Lottig, Chevy Camaro, 6.973, 196.18 def. Conner Statler, Camaro, 7.005, 197.51.
Junior Dragster Shootout — Clay Burrell, 12.126, 53.64 def. Abigail Wilson, McIlivan, 7.977, 82.43.
ENNIS, Texas — Final round-by-round results from the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
TOP FUEL:
ROUND ONE — Clay Millican, 3.700, 335.32 def. Tony Stewart, 3.774, 321.52; Brittany Force, 3.729, 340.14 def. Tony Schumacher, 5.441, 125.47; Shawn Reed, 3.717, 338.83 def. Kyle Satenstein, Foul – Centerline; Justin Ashley, 3.732, 334.25 def. Doug Foley, 4.857, 160.19; Shawn Langdon, 3.697, 336.00 def. Mitch King, 10.680, 79.99; Ida Zetterstrom, 4.257, 206.86 def. Antron Brown, 5.127, 158.61; Doug Kalitta, 3.751, 333.93 def. Jasmine Salinas, 6.219, 99.89; Steve Torrence, 3.993, 264.07 def. Josh Hart, 4.194, 208.21;
QUARTERFINALS — Kalitta, 3.757, 332.37 def. Zetterstrom, 3.845, 323.37; Torrence, 3.833, 330.37 def. Reed, 4.076, 257.84; Force, 3.828, 332.79 def. Ashley, 3.943, 292.85; Langdon, 3.790, 333.38 def. Millican, 4.385, 187.38;
SEMIFINALS — Torrence, 3.836, 328.08 def. Force, Broke; Kalitta, 3.805, 332.59 def. Langdon, 4.545, 193.10;
FINAL — Kalitta, 3.777, 333.04 def. Torrence, 3.874, 317.46.
FUNNY CAR:
ROUND ONE — Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 4.032, 311.48 def. Terry Haddock, Mustang, 5.380, 132.52; Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.911, 330.57 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.046, 318.72; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 4.224, 227.28 def. Alex Laughlin, Dodge Charger, 4.580, 193.52; Austin Prock, Camaro, 3.867, 335.70 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.030, 319.24; Paul Lee, Charger, 3.908, 331.25 def. Matt
Hagan, Charger, 3.934, 330.35; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.924, 329.28 def. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.958, 329.60; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.034, 315.44 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, Broke; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.291, 244.21 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.466, 205.33;
QUARTERFINALS — Wilkerson, 3.944, 327.46 def. Beckman, 3.993, 323.14; Prock, 3.939, 329.48 def. Hyde, 5.241, 150.66; Green, 4.082, 296.38 def. Lee, 6.777, 93.93; Capps, 4.042, 314.97 def. Pedregon, 4.994, 159.98;
SEMIFINALS — Capps, 4.019, 315.81 def. Wilkerson, 3.983, 325.73; Prock, 3.963, 328.88 def. Green, 4.068, 308.09;
FINAL — Prock, 3.959, 328.30 def. Capps, 4.405, 199.80.
PRO STOCK:
ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 6.564, 209.23 def. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.601, 208.22; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.578, 209.06 def. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.596, 208.25; Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.559, 209.23 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.636, 210.03; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.554, 208.51 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.602, 209.33; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.537, 208.97 def. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.571, 208.29; Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.534, 208.65 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.598, 209.34; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.532, 208.20 def. David Cuadra, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.568, 209.13 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.556, 208.91;
QUARTERFINALS — A. Stanfield, 6.603, 208.89 def. Hartford, Foul – Red Light; Glenn, 6.574, 208.66 def. E. Latino, 6.601, 209.38; J. Coughlin, 6.602, 208.74 def. Reed, 6.565, 208.36; Anderson, 6.547, 208.73 def. Kramer, 6.585, 209.31;
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.627, 208.70 def. J. Coughlin, 11.520, 92.02; A. Stanfield, 6.614, 208.77 def. Anderson, 6.632, 207.70;
FINAL — Glenn, 6.605, 208.89 def. A. Stanfield, 6.622, 208.75.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.863, 197.38 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.881, 198.11; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.803, 200.70 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.804, 197.32 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.899, 194.66; John Hall, 6.819, 199.42 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.801, 201.25 def. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.855, 200.11; Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.790, 201.15 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.863, 197.79; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.749, 202.52 def. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.750, 202.00 def. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.306, 177.15;
QUARTERFINALS — M. Smith, 6.888, 198.37 def. A. Smith, 6.889, 197.98; Davis, 6.816, 199.25 def. Hall, 6.867, 198.28; Gadson, 6.817, 199.00 def. Howey, 6.947, 197.26; Herrera, 6.780, 200.95 def. Johnson, Broke – No Show;
SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.813, 198.62 def. M. Smith, 6.873, 198.03; Davis, 6.831, 199.72 def. Herrera, Foul – Red Light;
FINAL — Gadson, 6.796, 200.37 def. Davis, 6.817, 200.34.
ENNIS, Texas — Point standings (top 10) following the 40th annual Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, the 18th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
Top Fuel
- Doug Kalitta, 2,525; 2. Justin Ashley, 2,384; 3. Shawn Langdon, 2,366; 4. Steve Torrence, 2,297; 5. Brittany Force, 2,291; 6. Tony Stewart, 2,289; 7. Clay Millican, 2,279; 8. Shawn Reed, 2,255; 9. Antron Brown, 2,242; 10. Josh Hart, 2,152.
Funny Car
- Austin Prock, 2,485; 2. Matt Hagan, 2,373; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,354; 4. Ron Capps, 2,336; 5. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,296; 6. Paul Lee, 2,257; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 2,252; 8. Chad Green, 2,236; 9. Spencer Hyde, 2,217; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 2,195.
Pro Stock
- Dallas Glenn, 2,548; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,488; 3. Matt Hartford, 2,323; 4. Aaron Stanfield, 2,318; 5. Cory Reed, 2,275; 6. Eric Latino, 2,250; 7. Erica Enders, 2,243; 8. Cody Coughlin, 2,221; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 2,203; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,145.
Pro Stock Motorcycle
- Richard Gadson, 2,507; 2. Gaige Herrera, 2,435; 3. Matt Smith, 2,402; 4. Brayden Davis, 2,321; 5. John Hall, 2,319; 6. Angie Smith, 2,318; 7. Jianna Evaristo, 2,241; 8. Chase Van Sant, 2,211; 9. Steve Johnson, 2,173; 10. Chris Bostick, 2,148.
