PEAK Motorsports Update- July 28, 2025

NHRA: Denso Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge - Sonoma, CA

Monday, July 28, 2025: 

The vulnerability suggested by an erratic qualifying performance proved to be an illusion Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, where Mission Foods point leader Austin Prock and his Cornwell Tools crew put together a near flawless race day performance to win the 37th NHRA Sonoma Nationals.

The 29-year-old son of crew chief Jimmy Prock took down Cruz Pedregon, Paul Lee and No. 1 qualifier Matt Hagan before outpacing Canadian rookie Spencer Hyde in the final to win for the first time in wine country and extend his point lead.

The reigning series champion’s “great” day included a best-of-eliminations 3.833 at a track record speed of 340.90 mph against Pedregon followed by winning runs of 3.887, 3.927 and, finally, 3.904.

When the Mission Foods tour moves to Brainerd, Minn., August 14-17 for the Lucas Oil Nationals, the former quarter midget and sprint car driver will lead Hagan by 201 points and John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman by 205.

Beckman’s bid ended in bizarre fashion in the penultimate round when his PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet lost traction and touched the centerline while driving away from Hyde’s Ford Mustang. Under NHRA’s new guidelines, that’s a violation resulting in a disqualification.

While it was a disappointing ending for the 37-time Funny Car winner, there was cause for celebration insomuch as his first-round win over Jason Rupert made him just the 26th professional in NHRA history to win as many as 500 rounds.

For the two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force, it was a day of disappointment at the wheel of a Monster Energy dragster that had powered her to the 55th No. 1 qualifying position of her career in a track record-setting 3.645 seconds, as well as to an NHRA national speed record for the second time in two weeks.

Nevertheless, the 343.16 mph finish line speed that made her the fastest man-or- woman race car driver on the planet was non-existent Sunday in a first-round showdown with point leader Shawn Langdon, who inexplicably qualified only tenth in a short field of dragsters.

Although she led at the 660-foot marker, her Monster Energy dragster suffered a malfunction shortly thereafter, slowing to 3.721 seconds at only 289.26 mph, more than 50 mph slower than the velocity she achieved Friday night. Langdon won in 3.688 seconds at 336.65 mph.

The JFR Team has the following weekend off before heading to the Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, August 14-17.