The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series news that most folks have been expecting for several months has finally dropped, January 15th during Detroit’s auto show, where Ford Racing delineated its 2026 motorsports activities. Austin Prock, the two-time consecutive Funny Car champion with John Force Racing and Chevrolet, together with his father Jimmy and brother Thomas, are joining Ford stalwarts Tasca Racing.
At the same time, Bob Tasca III, 50, who has been driving the team’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car since 2008 is turning all driving duties to Prock as this organization enters a new era of competition.
It’s true. The nitro ranks in NHRA will look a lot different this coming season, the sanction’s 75th year of racing. There won’t be anyone with the surname “Force” driving for John Force Racing, now that both John Force and Brittany Force have stepped from their respective Funny Car and Top Fuel seats. Now Bob Tasca, who has been in the thick of Funny Car competition for nearly two decades, was the first to hit 340mph – albeit unofficially at Bradenton last year – while Prock was the first to set an official 341-mph blast to 1,000 feet in NHRA’s 2024 season closer.
Just those two changes are pretty earth-shattering. No Force. No Tasca. But we do get plenty of Prock. Three Procks, in fact!
Tasca and the Prock family made their announcement in Detroit, with the launch event of Ford Racing for the 2026 season. “I’m thrilled to welcome the Prock family under the Tasca Racing umbrella,” third generation racer Tasca stated. “I’ve had a front-row seat throughout my career, watching the success Jimmy Prock has achieved, and he’s only continued to elevate his program with the addition of his sons.
“People will naturally ask how this all came together, and the answer is simple: the long-term vision of the Prock family and the Tasca family aligned perfectly. With the combined resources of Tasca Racing, Ford Racing and the Prock family, we know this partnership will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come,” Tasca declared.
While testing before the season starter, Prock’s first race as a Ford driver, after driving Chevrolet-bodied Floppers for the past two seasons, takes place in the 75th anniversary season starter for NHRA, the Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals, scheduled for March 5-8, 2026. He’ll be driving the P{G Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car in his official debut with the team.
“I am honored to join Tasca Racing. Our family shares the same passion and work ethic for success in motorsports,” said Austin Prock, also a third-generation drag racer. “Like Tasca, our family’s legacy in the racing industry runs for many decades. We re ready for the challenge of building a championship-level team under the Tasca Racing banner. The work has already begun,” he warned. “2026 is going to be exciting.”
Very disappointed in Prock, after all John force done for them, no loyalty, sad.
The Procks are a bunch of ungrateful traitors. Force made Austin a star and gave him a chance nobody else would. Jimmy got even more famous and successful under Force and Thomas would be working at Jiffy Lube without the generosity of Force. I guess this is how you repay the favors. I will be cheering for everybody before the traitor Procks.
Matt I agree with your comments 100% Austin was given the keys to the empire and he stabbed John in the back. I hope it backfires on them and they don’t succeed like they did at Force their egos will get in the way. Austin is the villain now and I know for a fact Team Force will be gunning to take him down.