Story By: JERRY BONKOWSKI / JOHN FORCE RACING – LAS VEGAS, NV – Austin Prock moved a step closer to eclipsing a record that at one time seemed forever secure Friday when he drove the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS to the provisional No. 1 starting position for Sunday’s 24th NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
If his time of 3.843 seconds at 333.33 miles per hour withstands Saturday’s challenges, the fourth-generation racer will start from the front Sunday for the 14th time this season. That would break the single season record set in 1996 by boss and mentor John Force, who was back at a racetrack Friday for the first time since his 300 mile-an-hour crash at Richmond, Va., last June 23rd.
“Alright, good start to Las Vegas,” said the 29-year-old point leader. “We ran 3,84 out of the box. Conditions got a lot better for Q2 and we obviously were pushing, looking for something similar to our low ET in Dallas.
“But, it was just a nitro Funny Car that run and decided it didn’t want to go (down the track). Everything looked good up to that point,” he said. “Two more runs tomorrow, conditions are going to be better and we’re going to have to improve on that time if we want to keep No.1.”
A Funny Car rookie whose previous driving experience was in Top Fuel dragsters, quarter midgets and sprint cars, Prock shared the first day stage with teammates Brittany Force, who directed her Chevrolet Accessories dragster to No. 1 in Top Fuel at 3.675 seconds, 336.42 mph, and Jack Beckman, whose 3.859 at 332.43 mph in the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Camaro was second best in Funny Car.
A two-time Top Fuel World Champion, Brittany is trying to secure her third No. 1 start in the last four years at this event and her fifth in her last eight overall appearances at the Strip where she has won three times and is the track record holder for both time and speed.
“This is a really special weekend for John Force Racing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway,” said the 16-time tour winner. “After four months my dad us back at a racetrack, standing at the starting line and supporting his teams. It’s been a trying season for the organization and to have him back at the track just feels right.
“I am proud to represent Chevrolet Accessories this weekend and it’s great to start out strong with the provisional No. 1.”
None the worse for wear after withdrawing from last month’s Texas Fall Nationals after awakening on race day with vertigo-like symptoms, Beckman remains the only driver within shouting distance of Prock in the Mission Foods point standings despite the fact that he lost another point to the leader on Friday. He enters Saturday’s final sessions 148 points behind with only this event and the season-ending In-N-Out Burger Finals remaining.
“I was a little bit surprised,” Beckman said, echoing Prock’s disappointment in not improving during conditions that seemed more favorable. “The weather conditions were there. The track temperature was kitchen sink, throw everything you got at it. And ours, we just missed it with the clutch. We tried something more aggressive in there and it didn’t work.
“But, a lot of times, the failures teach you and you move on to a success,” continued the 2012 Funny Car World Champion. “John Force is out here watching us. I got to fist-bump him before I got in the car. Maybe one of my most enjoyable days ever at a drag strip.”