Austin Prock, the current NHRA Funny Car points leader, is positioned to claim an impressive $400,000 reward during this weekend’s NHRA US Nationals Indianapolis Race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Already guaranteed the $150,000 regular-season champion prize, Prock is targeting a much larger payout by sweeping multiple opportunities at the high-stakes final race of the regular season.
Prock stated,
“I think it’s close to 400 grand on the line for us this weekend,”
highlighting the significant prize fund at the event. He added,
“So if everything goes right, I’d like to walk out of there with all of it.”
Dominant Season Sets Stage for Prock’s Historic Push
Prock’s 2024 campaign has been exceptional, with six victories in eight final rounds over 13 events, including four wins in the last five races. His performance features four No. 1 qualifying positions, two Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge wins, and a 29-7 race-day record. By the time Labor Day eliminations conclude, Prock will have led the Funny Car standings in 10 of 14 races.
At stake are multiple cash prizes: $100,000 for winning the US Nationals event itself, $150,000 for the regular-season championship, an $80,000 bonus for the Funny Car All-Star Callout race, and $10,000 for the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Additional payouts for qualifying top positions and contingency bonuses could further increase his total haul.
The US Nationals Represent More Than Just Prize Money
Beyond the lucrative rewards, the NHRA US Nationals hold immense prestige as the final regular-season event, which determines seeding for the Countdown to the Championship. The race is considered career-defining and emotionally significant among drag racers.
Top Fuel competitor T.J. Zizzo, known as a “super-part-timer” for his limited but competitive appearances, spoke about the importance of the event. Reflecting on advice from fellow racer Terry McMillen, Zizzo recalled,
“I talked to Terry McMillen who, like me, had a family-owned and -operated single Top Fuel [team]. I asked him after he won the US Nationals in 2018, ‘Was it worth it when [you] considered all the time, the money, and the struggles?’ Without missing a beat, he said yes. That is the dream we are all chasing. Winning the US Nationals is like no other race on the series,”
—T.J. Zizzo.
He detailed the emotional weight of competing at Indianapolis, saying,
“I get emotional talking about this race, because I visualize hoisting the Wally on Monday afternoon, I think about what the emotions will be like. I think about hugging my dad [car owner Tony Zizzo] after we win. You must have that attitude and that passion. We have come close, and I know we have a team capable of winning.”
He also noted the race‘s length and the importance of qualifying, adding,
“It is the longest race of the season, and we only are doing a handful of races, so you want to make the most of the event. I think being able to qualify for the US Nationals is a major accomplishment, and winning rounds on Monday takes it to another level. Getting that first win is always the goal.”
Top Racers Acknowledge the Unique Status of the US Nationals
Many elite drivers recognize the importance of winning at Indianapolis. Brittany Force in Top Fuel and Bob Tasca III in Funny Car are examples of top competitors who have yet to capture a victory there. Steve Torrence, a two-time US Nationals Top Fuel champion, hadn’t competed in the last three events but is eager to return to the series at this landmark race.
On the significance of the event, Torrence remarked,
“It’s Indy, It’s the biggest race on the planet. How can you not be fired up when you’re competing against the best of the best?”
Pro Stock legend Erica Enders, the most decorated female driver in motorsports history with 50 wins overall, reflected on the emotional and symbolic weight of the race. She said,
“It’s hard to explain the meaning of Indy to someone on the outside looking in. It’s just different, and the significance of winning here is unparalleled.”
The Human Side of the NHRA’s Premier Event
Susan Wade, an Indianapolis native and respected drag-racing journalist with nearly 30 years of covering the sport, emphasizes the human stories behind the competition. While living in the Seattle area for four decades, Wade has strongly connected to the community and history of the race, earning accolades such as the Russ Catlin Award, typically reserved for NASCAR writers, and contributing to outlets including Autoweek, the Chicago Tribune, Newark Star-Ledger, and Seattle Times.
The NHRA US Nationals in Indianapolis continue to symbolize the pinnacle of drag racing, blending historic significance with intense competition and personal achievement. As Austin Prock looks to sweep major prizes this weekend, the event’s legacy as both a lucrative and emotional battleground remains intact, setting the tone for the NHRA Countdown to Championship races soon to follow.
