NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

With the weather-induced cancellation of the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, Austin Prock locked up his second straight NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championship.

The reigning champion likely would have won the title anyway as he entered the event with a 101-point lead on the strength of nine event wins in his Cornwell Quality Tools Camaro, along with three runner-up finishes and seven No. 1 qualifying positions in the previous 19 races of the 2025 season. In his 2024 championship season, Prock won eight races, finished runner-up four times, and was the No. 1 qualifier a record 15 times.

“Last year, a lot of people told me it's not going to come as easily next year after the season that you had; it's not doable over again. And we came in there, struggled a little bit in the season, and then ended up winning one more race and getting the championship. I think that says a lot about this race team.

“To win one world championship is one thing, and to win two is another, and it puts you in a select group. I think there are only seven of us who have ever done it, and to add my name to that list, I wish my entire team could be added to that list. I get all the praise and the glory from the media and from the fans and the TV, but it's not just me. I couldn't accomplish what I've done in the last two years, without the people behind me, and I'm really proud of them.

“It's not just me. It's not just my dad, it's not just my brother, it's not just Nate Hildahl; it's every one of us, from the race team to the race shop. Everybody on the Cornwell Quality Tools team is doing a phenomenal job, and they're putting in that 110% effort."

With the cancellation of qualifying, Prock had needed only to win his first-round race at the Finals to wrap up the title. Had he lost, four-time world champ Matt Hagan still would have had to win the event to pass him in points.

Prock and his tuning triumvirate -- encompassing his father, Jimmy, brother Thomas, and Nate Hildahl -- have now won championships in both of his seasons in Funny Car after moving over from Top Fuel, where his best career finish was third in 2022. After three-time world champ Robert Hight retired from driving the John Force Racing Funny Car, Prock moved into the saddle, inheriting his father as the architect.

“We had a dominant race car all year long, and we definitely wanted to come in here and race it out. The odds were good forus. We just had to go one round, and I was honestly just looking forward to driving this nitro Funny Car one time for this, one last time for the season. I respect NHRA's decision, but I definitely think we earned this one."