Austin Prock was thrust into the NHRA Funny Car class in mid-January when three-time champion Robert Hight unexpectedly announced he needed to step aside to address an undisclosed medical issue.

Prock wasn’t overwhelmed. The 28-year-old rising Top Fuel star already had a license to compete in Funny Car and had worked on Funny Car teams with John Force Racing. He knew what to do — and proved resoundingly that he could handle the assignment by banking the class’s $250,000 top prize during the preseason PRO Superstar Shootout.