Austin Prock Announced!

[Butch]

My thoughts on the Prock situation.
Maybe everyone decided to get one car up and running consistently before taking on the expense and headache of two cars.
It seems like team Prock has a complete different can of worms to deal with, chassis, engine parts, Boss, environment, I can see it being July before things gel. Unless they have unlimited $$ for Monday Nationals or track rentals.

 

[65 Goatboy]

My thoughts on the Prock situation.
Maybe everyone decided to get one car up and running consistently before taking on the expense and headache of two cars.
It seems like team Prock has a complete different can of worms to deal with, chassis, engine parts, Boss, environment, I can see it being July before things gel. Unless they have unlimited $$ for Monday Nationals or track rentals.

It's also possible B T doesn't have the desire to drive anymore?

 

[ch streetcars]

It's also possible B T doesn't have the desire to drive anymore?

This is what I would guess. He has a family car dealership empire to run, was probably stretched thin being the driver, has the desire and the financial backing to attempt a championship , but lacks the time. BT3 can sell cars and keep Ford and the others sponsors happy while the Prock family being racers are likely more suited to dealing with the crew in Brownsburg. Division of duties should benefit Tasca, it seems he had above normal turn-over, maybe because he lives far-away ? Lots of good discussion and knowledge on this board, should be an exciting 75th season.

 

[J]

This is what I would guess. He has a family car dealership empire to run, was probably stretched thin being the driver, has the desire and the financial backing to attempt a championship , but lacks the time. BT3 can sell cars and keep Ford and the others sponsors happy while the Prock family being racers are likely more suited to dealing with the crew in Brownsburg. Division of duties should benefit Tasca, it seems he had above normal turn-over, maybe because he lives far-away ? Lots of good discussion and knowledge on this board, should be an exciting 75th season.

Maybe he will just be at the races on sunday?

 

[Axman]

Maybe he will just be at the races on sunday?

He may not be at all of the races

 

[mick]

if this isn't a move for a future ownership change i'd be surprised.
been wrong before ..... many times.

 

[Eracer]

It's also possible B T doesn't have the desire to drive anymore?

BT3 in one of these in Stock / Super Stock trim would be pretty cool.

 

[Jack]

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

Speaking of Capco do you know stuff that we don't about their plans for 26? Just checking

 

[J]

Speaking of Capco do you know stuff that we don't about their plans for 26? Just checking

Prob same as last year,i kinda hope he runs the full tour

 

[Ponyhntr]

Speaking of Capco do you know stuff that we don't about their plans for 26? Just checking

Rumor is it's only Billy running the full tour. May see Steve at a handful.

 

[Rajunz]

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.

Alan Johnson and Brian Husan disagree with this post!

I did read Prudhomme's book though and get what you're saying.

 

[Rajunz]

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.

Yep, and all of JFR's are always top runners.

 

[Brutus26]

Interview with Austin Prock starts now on WFO Radio Live on YouTube.

 

[CS]

Well he's the Prock's side of the story it would be nice to here JFR side https://www.nhra.com/news/2026/austin-prock-and-team-preparing-next-chapter-their-story

 

[MHayes]

Well he's the Prock's side of the story it would be nice to here JFR side https://www.nhra.com/news/2026/austin-prock-and-team-preparing-next-chapter-their-story

Not much to his side of the story except for "We had some talks with John Force, and things didn’t go as we envisioned". Sounds like it possibly had something to do with the fact that his family wanted to continue racing together, but who knows what was said. To be honest, more details will never be shared, so time just move forward.

 

[ironpony]

I am looking forward to this year, IMO they will "struggle" with everything being new and different. Also not going to have parts and data access like at JFR.
Then again they might come out and dominate which will make Jimmy Prock the greatest FC tuner ever right there with AJ in TF.

 

[JP1Special]

Rumor is it's only Billy running the full tour. May see Steve at a handful.

This is what I was told a few weeks ago as well. It will be interesting to see.

 

[you]

I’m not upset with this move at all as I’m a blue oval guy, but I’m curious as to why they couldn’t continue to “race as a family” at JFR.

 

[J. S.]

Alan Johnson and Brian Husan disagree with this post!

I did read Prudhomme's book though and get what you're saying.

Yes, you are right about those two. It CAN work if everyone works together, but historically this hasn't been the case. Look how long it took for Connie to change his approach and finally get "his" car to start running as good as Doug's car. When the current Langdon car was tuned mostly by Connie, it usually didn't do too well.

 

[Topfuel386]

I’m not upset with this move at all as I’m a blue oval guy, but I’m curious as to why they couldn’t continue to “race as a family” at JFR.

Here is my guess:

Other teams wanted Thomas as a crew chief. JFR wasn’t willing to pay Thomas what his offers were from the outside teams. Procks wanted to stay together, so they left together.