Setbacks and Speed Collide in a Defining 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals Weekend
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Ford Racing Nitro Mustang Funny Car continued to show measurable progress during the 2026 NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park, delivering a top-six qualifying effort and flashes of competitive performance throughout the weekend.
Piloting the Mustang Funny Car, Austin Prock and the Tasca Racing team used the event to further refine their Funny Car combination, producing one of their most complete runs of the season while continuing to build consistency.
Strong Qualifying Effort Sets the Tone
Prock opened qualifying Friday with a 5.407-second run at 132.14 mph after the Mustang overpowered the track just before the 330-foot mark. While the run did not reflect the car’s full potential, early incremental numbers indicated the team was moving in the right direction.
The breakthrough came in Q2. Prock delivered a smooth, controlled pass of 3.956 seconds at 331.94 mph, one of the strongest runs of the session. The pass provided a solid baseline for the team and vaulted the Ford Racing Mustang into the No. 6 position heading into Saturday.
“It was just a beautiful, smooth, safe run,” Prock said. “That gave us something to build on.”
Weather Challenges and Missed Opportunity
Saturday’s qualifying was impacted by weather delays, pushing Q3 into the evening session. After waiting out the conditions, Prock encountered a dropped cylinder immediately at the hit, resulting in a 5.847-second run at 147.18 mph.
With additional weather delays forcing the cancellation of Q4, Tasca Racing secured the No. 6 qualifying position heading into eliminations.
Despite setbacks, the team maintained confidence in their performance trajectory. “We made a really nice run yesterday, and the Mustang is trying to run quick all the time now,” Prock noted. “We’ll keep working on the fuel system and be ready for race day.”
Early Cylinder Issue Ends Sunday Run
On race day, Prock matched up against No. 9 qualifier Spencer Hyde in the opening round. The Ford Racing Mustang suffered a dropped cylinder immediately at the hit, slowing the car early in the run.
Prock still posted a 4.101-second pass at 319.82 mph with a .078 reaction time, but Hyde’s quicker .049 reaction time and 3.978-second run at 322.81 mph were enough to secure the win.
While the result marked a first-round exit, the data gathered continues to move the program forward.
Development Progress Evident for Tasca Racing
The weekend in Adel reinforced that Tasca Racing is closing in on consistent, full-track performance with its Ford Racing Nitro Mustang Funny Car. The team’s 3.95-second run at over 331 mph demonstrated the car’s capability, while incremental improvements throughout the event highlighted ongoing progress.
As the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season continues in Chicago at the Route 66 Nationals, May 14th-17th, Tasca Racing will focus on converting that performance into round wins.
“We’re getting closer to putting together full runs every time,” Prock said. “The speed is there. Now it’s about execution.”