CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS
FIREBIRD MOTORSPORTS PARK
CHANDLER, ARIZONA
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & QUOTES
APRIL 7, 2024
CHEVROLET CAPTURES THREE NHRA WALLY TROPHIES IN PHOENIX, WITH AUSTIN PROCK AND JOHN FORCE IN FUNNY CAR, AND GREG ANDERSON IN PRO STOCK
Notes:
- Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, raced to his first NHRA Funny Car victory, capturing the Arizona Nationals Wally trophy over Alexis DeJoria to give John Force Racing their second event win of the weekend after John Force, driver of the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, won over Matt Hagan in the weather delayed NHRA Winternationals Finals from Pomona.
- Prock’s win in Phoenix Sunday earned Chevrolet their 161st NHRA Funny Car victory since 1967, the 81st for Team Chevy in a Camaro-bodied Funny Car.
- Prock kicked off the Arizona Nationals race day from the No. 1 position, qualifying at the top of the leaderboard, with his run of 3.840 seconds E.T. at 334.40 mph earning his second Funny Car No. 1 qualifier and of the 2024 season, and fifth career in NHRA (four in Top Fuel).
- In Saturday’s Q3, the completion of Pomona’s final round resulted in J. Force, racing to victory over Matt Hagan to capture his 156th-career victory, as well as Chevrolet’s 160th Funny Car victory since 1967, Team Chevy’s 80th in a Camaro-bodied car, and Force’s 20th for Chevrolet.
- Force Sunday later drove to a Round 2 appearance in the Arizona Nationals, defeated in a close race by J.R. Todd with Force’s run of 4.036 seconds E.T. at 317.64 mph not enough for Todd’s 4.003 seconds E.T. at 319.90 mph.
- Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, led the John Force Racing team for Chevrolet in qualifying for Sunday’s Arizona Nationals with her pass of 3.689-seconds E.T. at 334.90 mph to put her on the race day ladders at No. 2. Despite strong qualifying, B. Force fell to Tony Stewart in Round 1.
- Greg Anderson, capturing his 104th national event win in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock car, raced to the Arizona Nationals Wally trophy over Dallas Glenn with his run of 6.582 seconds E.T. at 208.97 mph to Glenn’s 6.618 seconds E.T. at 208.91 mph. Anderson’s win on Sunday gives Chevrolet their 385th Pro Stock victory since 1970 and the 266th in the Camaro.
- Dallas Glenn, driver of the RAD Torque Chevrolet Camaro SS Pro Stock, defeated Erica Enders in the Pomona finals conclusion during Arizona Nationals’ qualifying to earn his ninth career NHRA victory in Pro Stock, as well as Chevrolet’s 384th Pro Stock victory since 1970 and the 265th in the Camaro.
Quotes:
BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:
“Starting off strong in Phoenix, we secured a second-place qualification and consistently made good runs. Unfortunately, our fortune shifted on race day when we were eliminated in the first round due to driving into smoke. However, we’re looking forward to testing tomorrow, planning to complete four laps in the heat, which should be beneficial before heading to Las Vegas. Speaking of Vegas, it’s a place we’ve had success in the past and we’re eager to return. The four-wide format there will definitely mix things up, but I believe the testing in Phoenix will have us well-prepared.”
AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:
“This is huge. All you want to do is make your parents proud, and I sure hope they’re proud because I definitely am. My dad (crew chief Jimmy Prock) and Thomas (Prock) are doing a great along with Nate Hildahl, this whole Cornwell team, and a big win for Chevrolet. A double-up for John Force Racing this weekend, and man, the days don’t get much better than this. What more could you ask for? We’re rolling out of here with some gold, baby.”
THOMAS PROCK, CREW CHIEF AND BROTHER OF AUSTIN PROCK:
“This is amazing. This has been a tough day. Anybody who’s gone down this track with four runs in a row, they deserve an award. This is great for Cornwell Tools, for our company. We’ve had a great start to this year. I’m so proud of this team. My brother has just done a phenomenal job driving this thing. He deserves a lot of credit. He saved our butts first round, and I’m just excited to celebrate. We’re testing tomorrow, and we’re going to try and a little better.”
JIMMY PROCK, CREW CHIEF AND FATHER OF AUSTIN PROCK, on Prock’s driving so far in Funny Car: “He’s still learning, but he’s adapting and he’s changing. He’s doing a really good job.”
JOHN FORCE, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:
“It was a fantastic weekend for Cornwell Tools and Chevrolet, clinching a victory like that, especially with Prock landing his first NHRA Funny Car win. It’s a big deal.We had to navigate through some changes, with Robert Hight, a three-time champion, stepping back for a bit. But everything’s aligning well for John Force Racing. Our top priority has always been looking after our sponsors, and this win certainly does that. Clinching the victory in Pomona yesterday was thrilling. It’s still early in the season, but this win sets a positive tone we’re all proud of. Yet, we’re mindful of the fierce competition out there; we’ve got our work cut out for us.Prock’s got a solid team behind him, with his dad and brother in the mix. Robert’s been sharing his wisdom about the car, much like he does with me, and it’s paying off. The kid’s got a background in dirt racing before moving to Top Fuel with us, and he’s had stints in our Funny Car too. Transitioning to a new team in Top Fuel was a challenge, but now he’s backed by a seasoned team, and they’re really complementing each other well. I’m incredibly proud of him for securing these victories for Chevrolet and all our sponsors. It’s all part of the job, but it sure was a great weekend for John Force Racing.”
GREG ANDERSON, DRIVER OF THE HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO SS PRO STOCK:
“It’s special. It’s been a while. It’s been a tough race track all weekend. My crew did a fantastic job. We managed the race track. We just flat out raced (Glenn). I just can’t thank them enough. I got a little extra pump today. I was watching the NASCAR race at Martinsville, and my teammates at Hendrick were 1-2-3. So, I felt like, you know what, if I don’t win, I’m the weak link in the chain. A lot of pressure there, but I love that. I love the extra pressure. Thank you, Mr. (Hendrick). A great day for you, and a great day for me too. Team Hendrick, baby. Thank you so much. Thank you, Hendrick Cars, Chevrolet, everybody that helps us. Thank you so much. Mac Tools. I love this stuff.”
AUSTIN PROCK, CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR – NHRA Arizona Nationals Funny Car Winner Press Conference:
“This is a huge win. This car has been running great, and we started the year out strong. We struggled a little bit last weekend and had to get some revenge this weekend. We definitely did that. That was a great run in the final round there. We were trying to do that all weekend long. Just couldn’t piece it together but it finally all came together. To get my first Funny Car win and enter a league of its own with the Don Prudhommes, the Shawn Langdons, the J.R. Todds, the Kenny Bernsteins, all these people that are legends and future hall of famers, it’s pretty cool to be a part of that small group. To do it with my family makes it even more special. There hadn’t been a bad day at the race track, even last weekend when we struggled. You never want to struggle, but when you get to race with your family, there’s never a bad day out here. Everyone’s just doing an outstanding job. We earned this one today. Had to pedal it first round, dropped holes, legged it as long as I could, almost took the fence out. Then we go up there and I was dead late against JR (Todd) and the Prock Rocket bailed me out. We put it all together there in the final. I chopped the tree down and the thing hauled the mail. We definitely earned it. These Funny Cars are no joke. I said at the top end this is by far the hardest car I’ve ever driven and most competitive class I’ve ever driven in. I’ve been racing since I was 10 years old. There’s nothing funny about a Funny Car.”
You say this is the most challenging car you’ve driven yet you win your first in just your third race. It took you 16 races to win in Top Fuel. What’s the difference?
“In my Top Fuel career, I worked with some wonderful people. Very brilliant, smart people, but we never really had a fair shot at running back-to-back seasons with the same group of people and that really crippled our performance, I feel. If you name any one of the crew chiefs I worked with, if we had back-to-back years, I think we could’ve really done some damage. When you fall into a golden pot like I did this year into a championship-contending car every year it goes out there, the thing is just bad fast and I’m hanging on and trying to learn as fast as I can. It’s definitely been a crash course, but I’m doing the best I can. That’s all you can ask.”
Did you have a mental idea of how long it would take for you to win?
“I knew the car was capable of it. I was sure I wasn’t going to be the weak link. I’m just hanging on for dear life, and like I said, do the best I can. Today was the W.”
With a tough class and tough field, did you think it would take this short to get your first Funny Car win?
“If you don’t believe in yourself, you shouldn’t be here. This is a very competitive class, and if you don’t believe in yourself, you’re not going to be competitive. You’ve got to walk around here believing you can do it, walk with your chin up, take your punches, and try and swing some back. That’s all I’ve been doing. I’ve just been trying to be a sponge. The tough thing about drag racing is you don’t get another lap to fix it. You go up there, and you’ve got to be perfect. If you make a mistake, you’ve got to sit around for three hours or more, and then go up there and make sure you don’t make it again. That’s what makes drag racing so tough. I’ve just been focused. I’ve got the best people in my corner. We’ve got the best sponsors, and the best parts and pieces. I’m just trying not to mess it up essentially. It’s working. I’ve been able to showcase my talent in a really tough field in a tough car.”
Talk about, while it being a short time from January to April, about your comfort level in the car…
“I’m getting more comfortable every lap, but the thing is every time you get comfortable, this thing tries to do something crazy on you. It’s like in first round, I pedaled the thing, it was beautiful. Couldn’t have done much better. Straight down there, had holes out, got the round win and then I’m like, ‘Man, I’ve got to hang on.’ Next round, it goes out there, drops holes and I about knocked the fence down. I get the finish line board. Almost crashed the car but got the win. Every time you think you’ve got a handle on it, but you don’t, and that’s what makes this category so tough.”
JOHN FORCE, PEAK CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR – NHRA Winternationals Funny Car Winner Press Conference:
Longtime coming to get back in the winner’s circle. You had to wait a couple of weeks from the weather delay, but how exciting is it to get the Winternationals win?
“The best was the sold-out crowd. I love that. Of course, who doesn’t love racing The Hulk (Matt Hagan)? He’s an animal out there. I’ve been struggling. I mean, (J.R.) Todd got me. I think my car ran quick as quick, probably ran quicker. But I got my mind right. I said, ‘how bad do you want to win?’ The only thing that was changing is you could make up a story in your head, but what was really happening was I was mad. I was mad at myself saying ‘you just need to get out of the seat, you’re too old for this stuff, or get out there and fight the fight.’ I did, and things went right, and I got the win. So I’m excited. It’s Pomona, that’s always… where my family and all of us grew up on that race track. It was really exciting, but I just… I’m excited.”
You’ve raced, obviously, at Pomona for a very long time, and you raced here at Phoenix (where the final was concluded) since the first race. Is there any level of extra comfort you have here?
“You know, it’s funny. Trying to keep my mind right, and I’m sick to my stomach every morning, and just ask ‘why am I stressed?’ Because I dream. Once you get to the race track, I’m well, but I still want that carrot. I still want to win. All of a sudden, something goes right and you don’t know why. Once I get in the race car, I’m home, it’s where I feel right. That’s when the stomach aches go away. Just getting in yesterday was a big deal knowing you could make the show and you could go race. You try to run three races in one and all of a sudden you don’t qualify because you smoked the tires. That’s painful. We got away with it. I’ve got a great team with Daniel Hood and Cunningham has joined us. We’ve got a bunch of young kids who really still believe in me, and do care about me. My wife Laurie and my grandsons, Jacob and Noah, are here. We go the win.”
How excited are you, today, versus the first time you’ve ran?
“The hard part is thinking I have to give it up. You have to sooner or later. You just can’t go until you fall in the dirt. To have a day like this… First of all, I can’t remember the first day I had my first win. I think it was in Montreal. But the point is, you get this, and all of a sudden, your life is back. I could see my wife (in the Top End) with the two boys after we won with a gleam in her eyes. She was happy for me, because she knows what I go through in the middle of the night sitting up in bed. It gets old. This, this fixes you.”
Your last win came just before your 73rd birthday. This one is shortly before your 75th. How do you feel?
“I better take it now (laughs). I just realized I’m going to be 75 in another month, and I’m doing some serious thinking where I’m going. But moods change you, and my mood has changed right now. It’s a win, and I’ve had lots of wins. But I’ve watched these young kids, and I’ve got some drivers I’m talking to. There’s something coming; I’ll let you all know.”
Up Next:
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 12-14, 2024. Friday qualifying airs April 12 at 11 p.m. ET, with Saturday’s qualifying airing Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. Sunday’s eliminations wrap up the weekend, with finals broadcasting at 7 p.m. ET. All sessions from Firebird Motorsports Park air with NHRA on FOX on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.
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