John Force Racing
PROCK FALLS IN FINAL ROUND AT PRO SUPERSTAR SHOOTOUT
Beckman, Brittany Reach Semifinals in Pre-Season Event at Bradenton
BRADENTON, FL – Ron Capps spoiled Austin Prock’s otherwise perfect week Saturday, beating the reigning NHRA Funny Car Champion and his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS in the final round of the second annual PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
Despite the final round outcome, it was a solid preparatory week for all three of the teams representing John Force Racing in the 20-race NHRA Mission Foods Series that begins March 7-9 with the 56th Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla.
In addition to Prock’s performance, which included a best-in-history 3.791 second run in the final qualifying session, Jack Beckman reached the semifinals from a No. 2 start in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy, and after failing to make the eight-car feature a year ago, Brittany Force put up impressive numbers in the Monster Energy dragster before she, too, exited one round before the big money.
It also was a big week for the team’s founder and CEO, 16-time series champion John Force, who was a welcome presence in the JFR compound even though he still is receiving treatment for the Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered in a crash last June at Richmond, Va. Continue reading
PROCK SCORCHES BRADENTON WITH A 3.791 QUALIFIER
Beckman, Brittany Also Turn in Solid Efforts at PRO Superstar Shootout
BRADENTON, FL – Led by defending Funny Car champion Austin Prock’s record-setting turn in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, John Force Racing advanced all three of its drivers to the elimination phase of the second PRO Superstar Shootout concluding Saturday at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
Prock, who won last year’s Shootout in his first race in a nitro Funny Car, made the quickest run in history during Friday’s final qualifying session, stopping the timers in 3.791 seconds at a speed of 331.53 miles per hour.
That barrier-buster was the climax to a dominant week for the 29-year-old phenom who was quickest in testing (3.805 seconds) and quickest in all four qualifying sessions (3.861, 3.882, 3.860 and 3.791). Now, all that stands between him and a second straight Shootout title are three elimination rounds on Saturday.
“That thing was trucking down there,” Prock said of his historic 3.791 that is two ticks quicker than the official NHRA record of 3.793 set by his predecessor in the Cornwell Chevy, Robert Hight. “I had my hands full. I got really close to the centerline and that might have scrubbed off that three-thousandths we needed to go (3).78. But I’m really proud of this team. Continue reading
PROCK, BECKMAN GO 1-2 ON FIRST DAY AT BRADENTON
Brittany Takes Monster Chevy to Provisional No. 2 Spot at PRO Superstar Shootout
BRADENTON, FL – Three months after winning the NHRA Mission Foods Championship in his first season in a nitro Funny Car, Austin Prock showed no signs of a sophomore swoon Thursday as he powered the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position for Saturday’s second PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
The 29-year-old son of Cornwell crew chief Jimmy Prock stopped the timers in 3.816 seconds at 332.84 miles per hour, just a couple of ticks off the track record-topping 3.805 he put on the board during testing on Wednesday. Second best Thursday was JFR teammate “Fast Jack” Beckman, who coaxed the also brand-new PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevy to a time of 3.836 seconds at 329.99 mph.
Not to be outdone, two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force also turned in a stellar opening day performance, qualifying her Monster Energy Chevrolet No. 2 behind only defending event champion Doug Kalitta. Kalitta grabbed the top spot at 3.658 seconds, 332.84 mph with Brittany just a couple of clicks behind at 3.675, 334.15 mph. Continue reading
PROCK GOES FOR A SUPERSTAR REPEAT
Reigning NHRA Series Champion Defends Title at Bradenton
BRADENTON, FL – How does one top the debut Austin Prock enjoyed a year ago when, in his first competitive appearance in a drag racing Funny Car, he and his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS crushed the competition in the inaugural PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park?
The answer is a simple one: you just make it double.
The 29-year-old son of crew chief Jimmy Prock and younger brother of crew member Thomas Prock will be the favorite to do just that when qualifying for the second iteration of the sport’s biggest non-points event begins with a single pro session on Thursday. Three more sessions Friday will set the eight-car lineup for Saturday’s eliminations.
“Being the defending champion always gives you a little extra confidence,” said the man whose competitive career began, not on the dragstrip on which his grandfather, Tom, excelled in the 1970s, but on dirt and pavement ovals on which he drove quarter midgets and sprint cars prepared by his brother. Continue reading
CHANGE OF VIEW JUST FINE FOR BECKMAN
‘Fast Jack’ Goes from Tower to Power at PRO Superstar Shootout
BRADENTON, FL – His view of this week’s second annual PRO Superstar Shootout won’t be as expansive nor as spectacular as it was a year ago when he was able to watch everything from within the operations tower at Bradenton Motorsports Park, but that’s just fine with “Fast Jack” Beckman.
The 58-year-old former Funny Car World Champion (2012) actually prefers the somewhat obstructed vantage point from which he will follow this year’s action: the seat of the brand-new PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS in which he will pursue the Mission Foods championship for John Force Racing, a car in which he will make his first laps this week.
“This is going to be thrilling for me for so many reasons,” said the man who, along with Force himself, is considered one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors. “I attended last year’s event as the color commentator with no clue that I would ever be back in a 300 mile-an-hour race car.
“Now, for the first time in five years, I will be running the entire season in pursuit of the NHRA Funny Car Championship for Chevrolet and John Force Racing.” Continue reading
BRITTANY AIMS FOR REDEMPTION AT BRADENTON
A ‘Monster’ is Back in the Mix at PRO Superstar Shootout
BRADENTON, FL – Anxious to build on the momentum generated in last fall’s Countdown to the Championship, two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force sends her Monster Energy dragster back to work this week in the second PRO Superstar Shootout at Bradenton Motorsports Park.
One of only two women to have won an NHRA championship in drag racing’s signature category, Force is anticipating a reversal of fortune in this year’s Shootout after failing to make the eight-car starting lineup at the special non-points event a year ago.
“I’m excited to get this 2025 season started,” Force said. “This is a great opportunity for our team to get back in the swing of things after some time away from the racetrack. David Grubnic will continue to lead the charge alongside (co-crew chief) John Collins and three new crew members.
“The Pro Superstar Shootout gives our Monster team a chance to redeem itself after a slow start last season,” she said. “We plan to take advantage of all the testing opportunities leading up to qualifying to give us the best possible chance to qualify well and win this exciting event.” Continue reading
HendrickCars.com Renews with Brittany, JFR In NHRA Drag Racing Series
BROWNSBURG, IN – HendrickCars.com, the online home of Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group, the country’s largest privately-held auto retail organization, today announced an extension of its drag racing partnership with John Force Racing and its three World Championship-winning drivers: Brittany Force, Austin Prock and Jack Beckman.
Cornerstone of the endeavor is primary sponsorship of Brittany Force, the two-time Top Fuel World Champion and first woman to win a four-wide race, at both NHRA tour events contested this year at ZMax Dragway – the original 4Wide Nationals (April 26-28) and the newly-minted Carolina 4Wide Nationals, second race in the Countdown to the Championship (Sept. 20-22).
Beyond its star turn with Brittany at ZMax, HendrickCars.com will serve as major associate sponsor on her national record-holding dragster for the other 18 events in the Mission Foods series.
Additionally, HendrickCars.com will assume the role of major associate sponsor on the Chevrolet SS driven to the 2024 World Championship by the 29-year-old Prock, and again will be an associate on the companion Chevrolet driven by Beckman on behalf of recovering JFR founder and CEO John Force. Continue reading
PEAK EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHN FORCE RACING
Beckman Will Pursue NHRA Funny Car Championship in PEAK Chevrolet
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Old World Industries today announced a multi-year extension with John Force Racing that includes primary sponsorship of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS in which Jack Beckman will pursue the Funny Car championship in the NHRA’s 2025 Mission Foods drag racing series.
Beckman, who won two times last season in relief of the team’s namesake, drag racing legend John Force, will be back on tour full-time for the first time since 2020. He won the NHRA Funny Car championship in 2012 after reigning as NHRA Super Comp Champion in 2003.
Injured in a high-speed crash at Richmond, Va., last June, Force continues to receive treatment for a Traumatic Brain Injury. Although he has made significant progress, he remains under the care and evaluation of TBI specialists.
“The last eight races we saw that the NHRA is definitely better for having Jack Beckman back in the driver’s seat,” said Brian Bohlander, Director of Sports Marketing for OWI. “We’re excited to have John, Jack, and the entire JFR organization representing the PEAK and BlueDEF brands for years to come. Jack has done a tremendous job, on and off the track, and has earned this opportunity to race full time for the championship.” Continue reading
BECKMAN BEATS PROCK TO WIN IN-N-OUT FINALS
Brittany Gains Three Positions in Points with Semifinal Finish for Monster
POMONA, CA – A championship sundae, no matter how sweet, always is better with a cherry on top. Newly crowned Funny Car World Champion Austin Prock and John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman applied that finishing touch Sunday at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, racing one another in the final round of the season-ending In-N-Out Burger Finals to secure their 1-2 finish in the 2024 Mission Foods driver standings.
Beckman sped to a career best time of 3.812 seconds to get his PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS to the finish line ahead of the Prock-driven Auto Club Chevy, collecting his second win for JFR in 2024 (Gateway).
After another record-shattering weekend, Prock’s blue-and-white Chevy lost traction and slowed from a track record-setting 3.804 seconds in qualifying to 5.028 seconds, denying the 29-year-old Funny Car phenom his ninth win of the year. Continue reading
PROCK CLINCHES ANOTHER TITLE FOR JFR
Championship is Team’s 23rd Overall and 21st in 35 Seasons in Funny Car
POMONA, CA – Austin Prock made official Saturday what had seemed destined since first he climbed into the cockpit of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car last February in relief of John Force Racing president Robert Hight, the three-time Funny Car World Champion.
The 29-year-old Funny Car rookie clinched the Mission Foods Funny Car Championship for JFR, Chevrolet, Cornwell Quality Tools, PEAK, Monster Energy, HendrickCars.com and the team’s other partners simply by qualifying the blue-and-white Camaro for Sunday’s 59th In-N-Out Burger Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.
A fourth-generation racer, grandson of former Funny Car driver Tom Prock, he will race Sunday at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip with a chance to win for the ninth time this season. If successful, the former quarter midget, sprint car and Top Fuel dragster driver would become the first Funny Car driver to win that many titles in a season since Force himself won 11 times in 2000. Continue reading