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Reigning Champ Prock Fails to Qualify at Gatornationals
Austin Prock's rough start with Tasca Racing leaves the defending Funny Car champion out of the field.
Published on Mar. 8, 2026
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Reigning NHRA Funny Car champion Austin Prock failed to qualify for the season opening Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Prock, who left John Force Racing at the end of 2025 and moved to Tasca Racing, was the slowest among the 19 drivers who made qualifying runs with a 4.836-second E.T. It was the first time Prock has failed to qualify for an event.
Why it matters
Prock's failure to qualify is a surprising start to the season for the defending Funny Car champion, raising questions about his move to a new team and the challenges he may face in defending his title.
The details
Prock said that everything that could go wrong has gone wrong lately, and he was not surprised by his failure to qualify. He cited an oil down on the starting line that NHRA did not clean up properly as one of the factors contributing to his struggles.
- The Gatornationals took place on March 8, 2026.
The players
Austin Prock
The reigning NHRA Funny Car champion who failed to qualify for the season opening Gatornationals after leaving John Force Racing to join Tasca Racing.
Tasca Racing
The racing team that Austin Prock joined for the 2026 season after leaving John Force Racing.
What they’re saying
“It stinks! I'm not surprised. Things have just been going this way lately. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. Then you have an oil down on the starting line and NHRA doesn't clean it up properly. With the way things have gone, I'm not shocked. It's a shame.”
— Austin Prock (autoweek.com)
What’s next
Prock and Tasca Racing will look to rebound at the next NHRA event, hoping to get the defending champion's season back on track.
The takeaway
Prock's failure to qualify for the Gatornationals is a surprising and disappointing start to the season for the defending Funny Car champion, highlighting the challenges he faces in adapting to a new team and the unpredictable nature of motorsports.
