Austin Prock interview regarding his Q4 run (13 Viewers)

[TooTall999]

My $64 question is: Why did this car not go down the track so many times? Tasca's 2025 car at least did some of the time! Jimmy Prock did not forget how to tune a fuel car, I can understand not qualifying but not even making one decent run in testing or the Gatornats? Countless tuners have lost their way but can anyone remember someone being this far off for that many times in a row?

Maybe the transition from Force pipe and parts to DSR pipe and parts is taking Jimmy a little longer to figure out than he thought it would?

 

[ironpony]

My $64 question is: Why did this car not go down the track so many times? Tasca's 2025 car at least did some of the time! Jimmy Prock did not forget how to tune a fuel car, I can understand not qualifying but not even making one decent run in testing or the Gatornats? Countless tuners have lost their way but can anyone remember someone being this far off for that many times in a row?

IMO similar to above, going from JFR pieces and parts along with the inventory to choose and match clutch disks etc. to AJP pieces and parts and limited inventory is gong to take some time to figure out and acquire new data.

 

[NitroRichFire]

Tasca team will be back at the next race, no nitro funny car team has ever not qualified twice in a row, have they?

 

[Leebone]

His replacement Jordan qualified and new JFR driver Alexis made it to the final. Any other excuses?

 

[twostep]

My $64 question is: Why did this car not go down the track so many times? Tasca's 2025 car at least did some of the time! Jimmy Prock did not forget how to tune a fuel car, I can understand not qualifying but not even making one decent run in testing or the Gatornats? Countless tuners have lost their way but can anyone remember someone being this far off for that many times in a row?

Point to ponder - Austin Prock ran 3.89/329 less than 3 weeks ago at that track - in that car. In conditions that weren't any better than Q2. So what made the difference? I'd have no idea other than perhaps the tune was simply too hot for the conditions. Too much clutch too early, perhaps. Six FCs ran 330+ at Gainesville Q2 so that tells me traction was there for the taking.

 

[Percboy]

.... no nitro funny car team has ever not qualified twice in a row, have they?

In 75 years of competition, yeah, probably dozens.

 

[HoodooVoodooAngus]

I'd be more concerned as a sponsor if he wasn't pissed off in that interview. Having said that, it would be have be more palatable had he not thrown the NHRA crew under the bus. Pissed off and saying something like "this is not acceptable and our team will come back and regroup etc etc" is fine. Blaming the crew is crybaby.

If you want to see a good interview, Terry Haddock showed humility and true concern for Buddy Hull while still getting a message across that it was a bummer he lost a car. My respect level for the Haddock team continues to increase. They keep making strides.

 

[Butch]

Terry is probably the most genuine person on the race grounds.
He definitely races for the love of it, and being on the bad end of the stick many times. He understands the feelings of others.

 

[CS]

I'm sure sponsors are equally, if not more, interested in winning. If leaving a day earlier gets them back to the shop a day earlier to work on finding the issue(s) then it is what it is.

Dennis having worked behind the scenes on partnership acquisition for a few teams over the years. I can tell you that visibility and return on investment (ROI) are often more important than the actual result of a single race. While winning boosts brand recognition and increases product sales, sponsors can still find value in a losing team through consistent, high-exposure media coverage. A sponsor’s primary goal is often to get their name in front of a large audience, which can be achieved through consistent, competitive racing even without a win. Sponsors can generate ROI through "activation", using the sponsorship for promotions, hospitality, and social media—even if they never win. Sponsors are actually interested more in a driver who is educated (or at least well spoken when interviewed), well groomed, some what younger 18 - 34 so the target audience can relate (18 - 50 is the overall age range with the most disposable income). Not bashing anyone but Cruz and Snap-On are a prime example.

 

[Steve Wayne]

Me personally, if I was sponsoring a team and a driver, I’d be pissed if they packed up and wasn’t there for fans on Sunday. There are a lot of fans who only go on Sunday. I understand if the team wanted to get back and get started figuring out the issues, but Austin imo should have been around to greet fans and sign autographs. It’s kind of a big middle finger to the fans, you know, the people who buy Fords and Motorcraft parts and PPG Paint so he can drive that car

 

[*******]

And if he'd qualified #1 and won the race and been all smiles and laughs in the interviews you guys would be hating on him for rubbing it in. There's no winning for him with most of you. You're just a bunch of sour grapes.

 

[Sparky]

Most of you amaze me with your knowledge and expertise. If I was a major prospective sponsor for a team I would definitely come to this page for advice and what team to go to. After that I can read all day long what we did wrong with the team and what NHRA should do better. If you don't think so prospective sponsers don't read pages like this before getting involed you are wrong. I am considered a grumpy old man at work but when I involved with the race cars I excited and happy. Reading negativity pretty soon leads to you being negative also.
The Procks did what they thought would be the best for the team in the future. Not what the average swinging dick would want.

 

[Litefoot]

And if he'd qualified #1 and won the race and been all smiles and laughs in the interviews you guys would be hating on him for rubbing it in. There's no winning for him with most of you. You're just a bunch of sour grapes.

Not showing class and not respecting the money that ford pays out for you to interact with fans ( potential buyers )on Sunday is not sour grapes, it’s not doing what is expected of you or your overall program for return on investment

 

[Butch]

Tell me when the last time was a Driver or Crew Chief told the Owner to leave pull out?
I'm sure it didn't happen this time either.

 

[Steve Wayne]

At the end of the day, the driver is the face of the team. Casuals have no clue who the owner or crew chief are, but know the driver. And I’m sure if they pay for a ticket on Sunday only to find out their favorite driver packed up and left, they aren’t gonna be happy, and I can’t imagine as a sponsor they could be too happy either.

 

[65 Goatboy]

Dennis having worked behind the scenes on partnership acquisition for a few teams over the years. I can tell you that visibility and return on investment (ROI) are often more important than the actual result of a single race. While winning boosts brand recognition and increases product sales, sponsors can still find value in a losing team through consistent, high-exposure media coverage. A sponsor’s primary goal is often to get their name in front of a large audience, which can be achieved through consistent, competitive racing even without a win. Sponsors can generate ROI through "activation", using the sponsorship for promotions, hospitality, and social media—even if they never win. Sponsors are actually interested more in a driver who is educated (or at least well spoken when interviewed), well groomed, some what younger 18 - 34 so the target audience can relate (18 - 50 is the overall age range with the most disposable income). Not bashing anyone but Cruz and Snap-On are a prime example.

Also Jim Dunn.

 

[yoda]

Question for those that were there for session 2 on Friday: How long was the time gap between the Tasca car and the Force car (Vandergriff) in the same lane? Enough for a major change in weather (Florida) or was it within 30 minutes with no wild swings in atmospheric pressure/humidity?

 

[CS]

Question for those that were there for session 2 on Friday: How long was the time gap between the Tasca car and the Force car (Vandergriff) in the same lane? Enough for a major change in weather (Florida) or was it within 30 minutes with no wild swings in atmospheric pressure/humidity?

In Q2 Jordan was in the right lane, Alexis was in the left, Jack was in the left and Prock was in the left. Alexia, Jack and Prock ran after Jordan's boomer and clean up, time frame from Alexis to Prock less than thirty minutes. Weather conditions: air temperature 77 degrees, relative humidity 68 percent, barometer 30.16 inches, adjusted altitude 1,698 feet.