Prock goes back-to-back at NHRA Summit Nationals in Norwalk

 

Funny Car points leader Austin Prock won back-to-back races for the second time this year for John Force Racing, taking down Matt Hagan in the final round of the 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals on Sunday at Summit Motorsports Park.

Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), Cory Reed (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 10th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock went 4.064s at 318.54mph in his Cornwell Quality Tools Chevrolet SS to slip past Hagan’s 4.099s, as the points leader earned his fourth win of the 2025 campaign. It is the reigning world champion’s 16th career win and, amazingly, the 12th in the last 30 races since joining the Funny Car ranks at the start of the 2024 campaign.

To reach the final round, Prock defeated Dale Creasy Jr., Bob Tasca III and Ron Capps, setting up a marquee matchup with Hagan. The four-time world champion left first, but Prock had enough to track him down and earn his first career victory at Summit Motorsports Park.

“It was definitely special, you know, the energy was definitely in a better place this year,” Prock said. “Last year, I probably shouldn't have even been behind the wheel, some of those runs. My mental state was not in the best capacity, but, you know, we still had a fast hot rod and I ended up coming short to Tasca in the semis last year. But to get it done with the Force family back in the house, that that was a big deal.

“Last weekend was huge and this weekend was really big for the Force family and really big for Cornwell Tools. I mean, winning in their backyard, sending the trophy home with them, I delivered the championship trophy to them this weekend, so to send them home with two pieces of hardware definitely makes me feel good.”

Hagan advanced to the final round for the first time this season and the 94th time in his career by defeating J.R. Todd, Jack Beckman and No. 1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon. Prock leads Jack Beckman by 127 points after 10 races.

Speaking of back-to-back wins, Top Fuel’s Justin Ashley continues to roll, as the young phenom picked up his second consecutive victory, this time going 3.931s at 317.34mph in his Scag Power Equipment dragster to hold off Clay Millican in a thrilling championship round holeshot victory.

It’s the first career win in Norwalk for Ashley, who has gotten red-hot over the past couple months, advancing to six final rounds at the past seven races. He’s now won consecutive races as well, pulling to within 77 points of leader Tony Stewart.

Ashley, who qualified No. 1 for the first time this year, got past Scott Farley, Josh Hart and Shawn Langdon to reach the final round. Against Millican, Ashley had an incredible 0.027s reaction time, which was just enough to hold off Millican’s solid run of 3.922s in a memorable holeshot victory for Ashley.

“It's very exciting to get my first win here,” Ashley said. “Norwalk means a lot to me personally. My father (Mike) won in Funny Car here in 2007, and I ever since we started racing in Top Fuel, it was a dream of mine to win right here and that's what we did today. It's special and the team did a great job all weekend.

“We qualified number one and navigated our way down the racetrack all race day long on a surface that was very slippery and very tricky. The people who win these races are the ones that go A to B, and that's what we did today. I'm just glad it worked out. I’m really proud of Mike Green and Tommy DeLago and our whole team. They really deserved this win and I'm happy that could be along for the ride.”

Millican reached the finals for the second time this season after defeating Dan Mercier, Doug Kalitta and Stewart.