Austin Prock made official Saturday what had seemed destined since first he climbed into the cockpit of the AAA/Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car last February in relief of John Force Racing president Robert Hight, the three-time Funny Car World Champion.

The 29-year-old Funny Car rookie clinched the Mission Foods Funny Car Championship for JFR, Chevrolet, Cornwell Quality Tools, PEAK, Monster Energy, HendrickCars.com and the team’s other partners simply by qualifying the blue-and-white Camaro for Sunday’s 59th In-N-Out Burger Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.

A fourth-generation racer, grandson of former Funny Car driver Tom Prock, he will race Sunday at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip with a chance to win for the ninth time this season. If successful, the former quarter midget, sprint car and Top Fuel dragster driver would become the first Funny Car driver to win that many titles in a season since Force himself won 11 times in 2000.

“Everyone at John Force Racing, we’re surrounded by such great people, such great sponsors," Prock said. "I told the boys last night, we had it done last night, and we had a toast and I said ‘Thanks for welcoming me in.’ They didn’t have to be nice to me, they didn’t have to believe in me, and they did all year long. It gives you so much confidence to go after something like this. This is 19 years in the making. I started racing when I was 10 years old and all I wanted to do was be a professional race car driver. I didn’t care what it was, and win a World Championship at it. We finally got it done. I’m so proud to drive this Chevrolet with AAA Auto Club, Cornwell Tools, everyone that’s a part of this. Thank you Robert Hight. Thank you John Force. Thank you FAM (Force American Made). Everybody back at the shop, for just doing great work, and giving us an opportunity to go out there and run low E.T.’s, and turn on win lights. I’ve been having a blast this year. I’m sad tomorrow is the last race day of the year, but I hope we can go four more rounds and have something really big to celebrate at the end of the night.”

Prock’s championship is the 23rd overall for JFR , whose drivers have won 21 of the last 35 Funny titles. 

“I’m really proud of the kid [2024 Funny Car Champion, Austin Prock],” team owner and Hall of Famer John Force said. “He told me he could do it, he told me he could win and he did. And his dad Jimmy and Jimmy’s son Thomas. All of them, it’s special. They were great all year and they supported our sponsors like PEAK and Cornwell the way they should. Jack and Brittany are doing what they need to do too, things are great. Just proud.”

This is the first Championship for Chevrolet since Hight Drove the Auto Club Camaro to the title in 2017 and 2019. It’s the fourth overall title for Auto Club, which also won with Hight in 2009. 

Prock becomes the fourth different JFR Funny Car driver to win the championship and his dad, Jimmy, becomes the first to win Funny Car titles with three different drivers. After sharing a championship with Hight in 2009, he won with Force in 2013 and with Hight again in 2017 and 2019. In between, he went to Don Schumacher Racing where he finished second in 2015 with Jack Beckman as his driver.

"John's 21st funny car in about the last 35 years, and my third with a JFR driver," said Jimmy Prock, championship crew chief. "I'm just, you know, I've been here a long time, and I'm fortunate to be here and John gave Austin a chance, and I got my family here, and it's a great thing, and everybody's done a great job, and we have a great organization of people here. I'm glad to be here. Thanks, John.

John Force Racing Series Championships

FUNNY CAR:

John Force, 1990-91, 1993-2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013

Tony Pedregon, 2003

Robert Hight, 2009, 2017, 2019

Austin Prock, 2024

TOP FUEL:

Brittany Force, 2017, 2022