Austin Prock Officially Named Driver Of Tasca Racing Ford Nitro Funny Car

Reigning and two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Austin Prock will take over driving duties for Bob Tasca III beginning with the 2026 season, marking a significant leadership and competitive shift for Tasca Racing in NHRA Nitro Funny Car competition.

The announcement was made Wednesday during the 2026 Ford Racing launch event in Detroit. Tasca will step out of the cockpit of the Mustang Dark Horse Nitro Funny Car, handing the seat to Prock as the team positions itself for long-term championship contention.

Prock will compete alongside his father, veteran crew chief Jimmy Prock, and brother Thomas Prock, who serves as assistant crew chief. The move brings the full Prock family operation under the Tasca Racing banner, uniting two of the most successful modern programs in Funny Car racing.

Tasca said the transition was driven by aligned goals and a shared vision for sustained success. He pointed to Jimmy Prock’s championship pedigree and the family’s proven ability to build elite teams as central to the decision. Tasca will remain deeply involved with the organization’s leadership, manufacturer relationships, and long-term direction while stepping away from full-time driving duties.

Prock is scheduled to make his debut with Tasca Racing at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals on March 6. He will drive the PPG-backed Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car, beginning a new chapter for both the driver and the team.

“I am honored to join Tasca Racing,” Prock says. “Our family shares the same passion and work ethic for success in motorsports. Like Tasca, our family’s legacy in the racing industry runs for many decades. We are ready for the challenge of building a championship-level team under the Tasca Racing banner. The work has already begun. 2026 is going to be exciting.”

“I’m thrilled to welcome the Prock family under the Tasca Racing umbrella,” says Tasca. “I’ve had a front-row seat throughout my career watching the success Jimmy Prock has achieved, and he’s only continued to elevate his program with the addition of his sons. People will naturally ask how this all came together, and the answer is simple: the long-term vision of the Prock family and the Tasca family aligned perfectly. With the combined resources of Tasca Racing, Ford Racing, and the Prock family, we know this partnership will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.” 

Tasca and Prock share a unique place in NHRA history as the only Funny Car drivers to exceed 340 mph. With the Prock family now leading the competitive effort, Tasca Racing enters 2026 focused squarely on championship results.