Austin Prock to Drive PPG Nitro Mustang Funny Car in Four-Race 2026 NHRA Schedule
- Feb 25
- 2 min read
Tasca Racing and PPG enter a new competitive chapter in the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series as reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock takes the wheel of the PPG Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car.
Following Tasca Racing’s offseason driver lineup announcement, Prock will pilot the PPG-backed Funny Car at four NHRA national events in 2026, continuing one of the sport’s longest-standing technical partnerships.
2026 PPG Primary Race Schedule
The PPG Funny Car will compete at:
AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals – March 6-8 – Gainesville, Florida
Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals – April 9-12 – Pomona, California
NHRA Potomac Nationals – May 29-31 – Mechanicsville, Maryland
Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals – June 12-14 – Bristol, Tennessee
These events anchor a key portion of the 2026 NHRA calendar and place Tasca Racing and Prock in early-season championship positioning.
A 340 MPH Foundation
The Tasca Racing and PPG partnership is built on measurable performance.
In 2024, Bob Tasca III drove the PPG Funny Car to 341.86 mph, becoming the first driver in history to push a wheel-driven Funny Car beyond the 340 mph barrier. Prock later became the only other Funny Car driver to exceed 340 mph.
Two members of that exclusive 340 mph group now operate under the same competitive structure.
As Tasca transitions from full-time driving to full-time team leadership, the performance expectation does not shift.
Full Circle for Prock
For Prock, the opportunity to drive the PPG Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car carries personal significance beyond statistics.
“PPG continuing with Tasca Racing means a lot to me,” Prock said. “One of my first sponsors in open wheel was a PPG distributor, so this relationship goes back to the start of my career. I grew up painting my own race cars and helmets, so I’ve always respected the craftsmanship behind the brand. To now drive the PPG Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car feels full circle, and we’re ready to deliver.”
The connection between product and performance is not abstract. It is hands-on, technical, and rooted in the fundamentals of racing.
A 25-Year Partnership Beyond the Racetrack
PPG and Tasca Racing have collaborated for more than 25 years across competition, research, and real-world applications.
The Tasca Automotive Group operates multiple franchise dealerships and collision centers that rely on PPG products. The PPG Envirobase High Performance paint system serves as the preferred paint solution across the organization’s collision center network.
The partnership extends from race-day performance to everyday customer vehicles.
2026 Championship Objective
With Austin Prock behind the wheel of the PPG Nitro Mustang Dark Horse Funny Car, Tasca Racing enters the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series positioned for another championship run. The program combines a reigning Funny Car world champion, proven 340 mph performance capability, and one of the longest-standing technical partnerships in professional drag racing.
The PPG primary livery will appear at four national events in 2026, beginning with the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville. Each appearance represents more than branding. It represents competitive intent.
The expectation is clear and measurable. Win rounds. Accumulate points. Contend for another Funny Car world championship.
The next phase of the Tasca Racing and PPG partnership begins in Gainesville.