He said the Cornwell Tools/Auto Club Camaro “in my opinion, and probably in a lot of people's opinion, it's been arguably the best race car probably in the last 10 years. I never planned for it to be this way, but it's still a dream of mine and it's an opportunity that I got to go out and seek and try and do the best I can.” I had no idea what was going on, and all of a sudden you go from standing on the sidelines to getting a dream opportunity. We live, eat, and sleep this sport, and it was tough for him. I've lost my ride before, and this is the first time that he's going to have to step away from his race car. “He was actually the one that told me what was going to go on, and it was tough. I hope that he can get all his medical issues sorted out, and hopefully I can go do a good job for him,” Prock said. So this setback was another difficult reality for him. He raced the final three events of 2018 with a broken collarbone because he was in the thick of the title chase. Throughout the years, immediately after a race, whatever the outcome, Hight has said he wishes the next event were the next day. Even mother Jill often packs the parachutes before a pass.īecause Hight is coming off his fifth overall and second straight runner-up finish, he was especially eager to begin another campaign. So “It's really special being able to work with your family and all share the same passion,” he said. We pretty much have it in that building, and he helps manage all that. And hopefully we can all do a good job together.”īrother Sam is general manager at John Force Racing, and Austin Prock said, “We have a machine shop and fab shop and parts room and you name it. You hate to see your driver have to step away, but we're all excited, racing with your family. I've known Robert pretty much my whole life, and my dad's raced with Robert his whole career pretty much, other than a year or so here or there. Jimmy Prock, he said, “is excited (although) it’s been bittersweet for all of us. So it’ll be an all-Prock affair, and hopefully we can do good for all the fans and sponsors that we have.” And to top it off, the assistant crew chief being my brother Thomas. “I hate to see Robert have to step away for a little bit, but it's always been a dream of mine to drive a Funny Car, especially for my dad. There was plans of not running our dragster this year, and it looked like I was going to be sidelined again, and then everything turned around. Prock said Hight broke the news to him: “I found out on Thursday. His father, Jimmy Prock, will be his crew chief, and his brother, Thomas Prock, will be assistant crew chief.Īustin Prock finished seventh in the NHRA Top Fuel Dragster standings in 2023. So when the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season begins with the March 7-10 Gatornationals at Gainesville, Fla., Prock will be driving Hight’s Cornwell Tools/Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro. In a news bombshell Tuesday from John Force Racing, three-time NHRA Funny Car champion Robert Hight, 54, has announced he will take a hiatus at the start of this season to address undisclosed medical concerns and 28-year-old Austin Prock will switch from the Top Fuel class to Funny Car in his place, at least temporarily. ‘It’s a big hit to the team,’ Prock says. Robert Hight is stepping aside with 65 victories and both ends of the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Funny Car class’ performance records (for elapsed time and speed).Īustin Prock, 28, already is licensed in both nitro categories and will have chance to work with tuner dad Jimmy Prock and crew member brother Thomas Prock as Hight's replacement. Hight Taking Medical Leave from John Force Racing MARC GEWERTZ
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