Austin Prock Announced! (12 Viewers)

[z28]

i thought that for a major shift like this to take place (procks), there would be a 2 car effort; tasca family really cutting a deal with ford
and/or others and run hard with 2 car team for next 2-4 years. i guess not. maybe they'll surprise and add one. time will tell.

could it be Tasca wants to keep the team together another year before moving Jimmy to a new car for him? I think long term Thomas will end up tuning Austin.

 

[DragFan2]

Why is loyalty a one way street? How many people here still work for the same employer as they did fresh out of high school/college?

Bunch of finger pointing over a business transaction. Procks wanted "x". Force offered "y". BT3 says "I'll give you "x". Procks move on, JFR moves on.

Keep in mind, while Prock gets paid "x" I'm sure he brought in 5x (or some other number above 1x) to the organization by way of sponsorship on THE premier funny car in drag racing. Loyalty goes both ways. (Note: not inferring anything negative here, nor am I taking a side. Just that it's a business transaction between 3 people working in their own self interest.)

Are you implying that the Procks brought Cornwell Tools sponsorship to JFR or that due to their success, the car made (brought in) 5x what the Procks were paid?

 

[Jack]

You realize Jimmy was a loyal employee in a free market you have a better offer you can take it. I don't see you turning a better opportunity

I just have that feeling that this is more a partnership than a employer/employee relationship. And I don't see Tasca not jumping back into a drivers seat in th not to distant future. Winning a championship as an owner ain't the same as winning one as a driver.

 

[Rajunz]

This is, IMO, a huge downgrade for all of the Procks. I believe that when they left JFR, their belief was BT3 was going to be a 2 car operation this year, with big Ford sponsorship. And maybe a chance to get another car in 27.
Ford isn’t going to make the monetary impact that everyone thought. And I don’t recall AP bringing any big money sponsors with him. So they are just left with a top 6-8 car and very little chance of growing a program this year.

It sounds like they THOUGHT Cornwell was going to go with them. They offered to buy out Force's contract and Cornwell said that they are Force's sponsor...

 

[Rajunz]

maybe tascas are looking to get out, and this is the first step in doing so. an opportunity for both parties.
now wouldn't that be cool.

What Tasca said on it was that when he talked Ford into getting back into Drag Racing, he promised them a World Championship. This is his way of honoring that promise. We shall see how it plays out.

 

[sfw1960]

There are more race shops on Southpoint Cir in Brownsburg, just sayin. I truly hope this works out for Jimmy. Limited data with one car, limited resources. The honeymoon should be good and the marriage ......we'll see.

By the 4th race the honeymoon should be over....

 

[Randy]

Randy - I'm not looking for a keyboard fight just asking - the way your reply reads is that everything and all the championships won by John/Coil/Bernie Fedderly/John Medlen et al meant nothing that it was the Prock family and Jimmy specifically that made JFR who they are today? Jimmy was Johns tuner for the 2013 season but worked there 2001 - 2014 and again 2017 - 2025. If memory serves me right John was champion in 1990. 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013. Again not trying to start anything but FORCE was great way before Prock arrived.

I appreciate your response, and I don't take it as you wanting to start a fight.

The thing about Jimmy Prock is that he's able to consistently tune and win long after Coil, Fedderly, Medlin, etc were long gone. To tune and win year after year means you have to have the ability to create and evolve, and it takes a particular type of thinking to keep it together. Some people fall into a great tune up, and that lasts for a short period of time before the wheels fall off. Others, including Alan Johnson over the years, can evolve with things like changing clutch discs, track conditions, inconsistent or evolving superchargers, tires, rules changes, and somehow they still end up on top. In my class, that guy was Frank Manzo and Steve Boggs.

JRF was a place where Prock had the ability to really develop over the years. I think wherever he lands, he's going to be successful because he has the right kind of thinking that goes into what it takes to create or keep a good tune up. That was part of my point.

The downside could be he ends up in a camp that would put their thumb on him and not let him do his own thing, or limit what he can do due to insufficient finances or resources. That may be the case eventually at BTR, but Jimmy's a smart guy, and he probably would have already figured that out.

I'm pulling for him to be very successful.

 

[sfw1960]

Jimmy can tune in his sleep - eyes closed, hands tied & blind folded, I'll give him all that and Thomas seems legit - it's his brother I take issue with.

I do get it though - it's a family thing but IMO they took a few steps back, and they won't be begged to come back.

If BT3 fails at this, they will be able to find work - but maybe not what they planned for & AP will see what it's like.,.

 

[Sandman]

Or, how about Kalitta bring AJ on for Doug.

Or Schumaker bringing on AJ for Tony, or Kahlid bringing on AJ for Larry Dixon Jr. Sharp people are in demand, always were, always will be. Imagine if someone called any one of us and offered a better deal to work for them. I don't care if you're hanging sheetrock, selling used cars or doing brain surgery, people like a new challenge.

 

[Paul]

The comments on this thread, lol. This isn't the first time Jimmy left Force. Jimmy and Austin's track record tells us they will be contending for a championship come the Countdown anyone thinking otherwise is out to lunch. If I had to place a bet on which car will finish the year higher in points with Prock vs. Vandergriff, my money is on Prock.

 

[BOO BOO]

If you try for 18 years to win an NHRA Funny Car Championship and can't then the next thing you do is try to buy one. I know it won't happen but I hope BT3/Procks fall flat on their face. The word is BT3 isn't the easiest to work for I hope all the alpha personalities clash! No loyalty for all that JFR did for the Procks over the years. I expect to get a lot of crap for this post but I had to say it.

Most of these guys are not easy to work for. Everybody has heard stories about Force, The Don (RIP) Head, Connie, Cruz. etc etc. Crew chiefs move every year.

 

[mick]

i think silly season a year from now will still be focused on this 'new' team ...... just a somewhat educated guess

 

[Randy]

Most of these guys are not easy to work for. Everybody has heard stories about Force, The Don (RIP) Head, Connie, Cruz. etc etc. Crew chiefs move every year.

One thing for sure. Tom Mckernan of AAA of California gave funding for many years to keep Prock and Hight together. Not much movement there until Hight made the decision to go a different direction after Tom went away followed by AAA. I think it must be pretty special for Jimmy (Dad) and son to be able to stay together albeit with another team.

 

[tb]

What Tasca said on it was that when he talked Ford into getting back into Drag Racing, he promised them a World Championship. This is his way of honoring that promise. We shall see how it plays out.

I do not see how not running a second car hinders the goal of a world championship. Would be nice if Tasca ran a second car at least at the US Nationals, maybe with a TASCA Ford throwback 60's livery.

 

[J. S.]

I do not see how not running a second car hinders the goal of a world championship. Would be nice if Tasca ran a second car at least at the US Nationals, maybe with a TASCA Ford throwback 70's livery.

I think two car teams have been greatly overrated for years as far as making the entire team more competitive, with the only exception I can think of being the two Capco dragsters we have seen in past years. They supposedly had the exact same set-up and the crew chiefs supposedly freely exchanged information, so both cars ran real well. If you read Prudhomme's book he basically said that 2 car teams were twice the headaches. And his crew chiefs were from the old school and frequently didn't get along with each other and in fact would try to compete with the other team car. If the sponsorship is there, two-car teams are great for the fans and they help to fill the fields. But as far as helping to win a championship, the evidence isn't there.

 

[Dennis]

Are you implying that the Procks brought Cornwell Tools sponsorship to JFR or that due to their success, the car made (brought in) 5x what the Procks were paid?

The latter. And I don't know the multiple, it was purely an example. It could be 2x, it could be 15x, nobody here knows. John Force didn't go from a single wide trailer to a family compound on a hill by breaking even every year.

And nothing that I said is to throw shade on any of the parties involved, purely to disagree with the "Prock should have been loyal" mindset.

 

[none]

Jon,

The two car concept works the best when the Crew Chiefs are working in lockstep. That's why CAPCO was successful and why JFR was successful.
Prime example is Kalitta, just look at the overall team performance when Brian Husen was put in charge of Langdon's car.

Alan

 

[ironpony]

I think two car teams have been greatly overrated for years as far as making the entire team more competitive, with the only exception I can think of being the two Capco dragsters we have seen in past years. They supposedly had the exact same set-up and the crew chiefs supposedly freely exchanged information, so both cars ran real well. If you read Prudhomme's book he basically said that 2 car teams were twice the headaches. And his crew chiefs were from the old school and frequently didn't get along with each other and in fact would try to compete with the other team car. If the sponsorship is there, two-car teams are great for the fans and they help to fill the fields. But as far as helping to win a championship, the evidence isn't there.

Exactly my thoughts on this, CAPCO is one team, own owner, one persons money. JFR has one owner, several teams and multiple sponsors JFR has to keep a happy balance and give each sponsor the bang for their buck.

 

[aakar]

Good on Tasca and the Procks for adding ANOTHER highlight for the Silly Season.
Hope there is more to come...

 

[ironpony]

Good on Tasca and the Procks for adding ANOTHER highlight for the Silly Season.
Hope there is more to come...

And no additional car as hoped. NET Zero.