Austin Prock achieves two of John Force's Funny Car records in one season

There may only be one John Force, but his young protégé Austin Prock is about to break some of the GOAT Funny Car class records.

It may be his first season in Funny Car, but Prock is already close to breaking two of Force's 30-year-old single-season records for No. 1 qualifier and lowest ETS.

At the NHRA Carolina Nationals, Prock started from the top qualifying position in 11 of 15 races, driving the Cornwell Tools Camaro tuned by his father Jimmy and brother Thomas, putting him within striking distance of Force's once unassailable season record of 13 No. 1 starts in a season (1996). With five races remaining this season, his chances are good. (Prock's current Top Fuel teammate Brittany Force had 12 No. 1 starts in 20 Top Fuel starts in 2021.)

(For history buffs, Prock is just one No. 1 away from tying class legend Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, who claimed 12 No. 1 finishes in 16 events during his dominating eight-race seasons in 1975 and 1976.)

Prock also has the lowest Et in 10 events and could break Force's other record from 1996 with 14 class bests.

“I heard [these stats] last week, and I had no idea we were even close, but I think we're capable of doing it the way it's going,” Prock said. “It would be surreal, another surreal moment of this year to see my name on that list, alongside John Force and [Top Fuel stats leader] Tony Schumacher. But really all the guys who make those decisions should be on that list, every single one of the crew members – my dad, Thomas and Nate Hildal; they're the ones who make it happen. I just do a good enough job not to screw it up.”

As good as his 2024 season was, Prock will not break Force's other records from this season.

Force has 13 event wins and an incredible 65 round wins in 19 events with his Austin Coil-tuned Castrol GTX Pontiac. Prock has six event wins and 38 round wins before this event, and even if he wins the next five events, he would only finish with 11 Wallys and 63 Win Lights.

Force has also reached 16 of 19 finals this year; Prock, who currently has nine finals (six wins, three second places), can reach a maximum of 14.

INDIVIDUAL SEASON RECORDS, OTHER CLASSES:
Top fuel
Most event wins: 15 by Tony Schumacher (2008) **
Most lap wins: 13 by Schumacher (2006) *
Most final laps: 18 by Schumacher (2008) **
Most No. 1 qualifications: 13 by Schumacher (2006) *

Per Stock
Most event wins: 15 by Greg Anderson (2004) *
Most round wins: 76 by Greg Anderson (2004) *
Most final rounds: 19 by Anderson (2004) *
Most No. 1 qualifiers: 16 by Anderson (2004) * and Mike Edwards (2009) **

Pro Stock Motorcycle
Most event wins: 11 by Gaige Herrera (2023) ***
Most final rounds: 12 by Matt Hines (1998) **** and Herrera (2023) ***
Most round wins: 50 by Herrera (2023) ***
Most No. 1 qualifiers: 14 by Herrera (2023) ***

* 23 events
** 24 events
*** 20 events
**** 15 events