NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Rookie nitro driver Austin Prock will make his Top Fuel debut in the Montana Brand and Rocky Mountain Twist Top Fuel Dragster at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals on Friday. John Force Racing announced the sponsorship Wednesday ahead of the opening race of the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. 

“This all came together rather quickly,” explained John Force, CEO and owner of John Force Racing and driver of the Peak Coolant and Motor Oil Chevy Camaro. “Don Prudhomme introduced us to entrepreneur Frank Tiegs who owns and is heavily involved with Montana Brand and Rocky Mountain Twist among other successful companies. Who would have thought after all these years of racing against Prudhomme, all these years of being in the other lane, that we’d be working together on the same team?”

Prock earned his Top Fuel license during preseason testing at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park outside of Phoenix and entered the Pomona race shortly after. The entire John Force Racing crew chief brain trust will work to tune the dragster, including Jon Schaffer and Top Fuel champion Ronnie Thompson. 

“I’m excited to head out to Pomona for my first national event,” Prock said. “This is what I’ve been working towards for years now. I know it took a lot of hard work from everyone at John Force Racing to be able to make this happen. I’m proud to be able to race for Montana Brand / Rocky Mountain Twist and John Force Racing and I can’t wait to go rounds and ultimately get in the winner’s circle."

“It’s an honor to be involved with John Force Racing,” said Prudhomme, who helped pull the deal together. “John and I have been friends for many years. I had an opportunity to help bring in a sponsorship for Austin and I was happy to do it.”

The legendary racer is a champion in both Top Fuel and Funny Car and competed against Force for many years before retiring. 

“I’m excited to be involved in drag racing and with such a well-known team,” said Tiegs. “I’m thankful to Don Prudhomme for making the introduction and creating this opportunity and to everyone at John Force Racing for pulling this together so quickly. I’m looking forward to seeing Austin race this year and seeing what we can do with this partnership.”

Tickets to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals are still available. You can also catch the action on FS1 all weekend.