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Reigning NHRA Funny Car champion to drive PPG Funny Car in four 2026 events
PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced its 2026 NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION® (NHRA®) Mission Foods Drag Racing Series primary race schedule with Tasca Racing. The season marks a new era for the partnership as two‑time and reigning NHRA Funny Car world champion Austin Prock will drive the PPG NITRO MUSTANG DARK HORSE® Funny Car, following Tasca Racing's recently announced driver lineup changes.
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Austin Prock will drive the PPG NITRO MUSTANG DARK HORSE® Funny Car for Tasca Racing during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
The PPG Funny Car will compete at four NHRA national events in 2026:
- The AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 6-8 at Gainesville, Fla.
- The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, April 9-12 at Pomona, Calif.
- The NHRA Potomac Nationals, May 29-31 at Mechanicsville, Md.
- The Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 12-14 at Bristol, Tenn.
PPG's collaboration with Tasca Racing has been defined by shared innovation and standout performance moments, including Bob Tasca III's historic run in the PPG Funny Car, making him the first driver in history to pilot a wheel‑driven dragster beyond 340 mph. Prock is the only other Funny Car driver to surpass the 340‑mph barrier, reinforcing the high‑performance foundation of the partnership as it enters the 2026 season.
"As Tasca Racing enters this new phase, we're proud to continue supporting a team that consistently pushes the limits of performance," said Rodolfo Ramirez, PPG vice president, Automotive Refinish, Americas. "Austin stepping into the PPG Funny Car represents the next evolution of our strategic partnership – one that extends far beyond the track through shared innovation, technical collaboration and our mutual commitment to advancing automotive excellence."
Team owner Bob Tasca III, who will shift from driving duties to full‑time leadership, said that PPG remains a foundational partner during this transition.
"PPG has been with us since the beginning, on and off the racetrack," Tasca said. "This year brings big change for our organization and having Austin behind the wheel of the PPG Funny Car builds on the performance legacy we've created together."
Prock, who joins the team along with the rest of the Prock family crew, emphasized the significance of stepping into a program with such an established partner.
"Driving the PPG Funny Car is a tremendous opportunity," Prock said. "Tasca Racing and PPG both have deep roots in this sport, and we're ready to deliver a championship‑level performance together."
For more than 25 years, PPG and Tasca Racing have built a strong partnership both on and off the track. The Tasca Automotive Group operates multiple franchise dealerships, collision centers and service centers that rely on PPG products, with the PPG ENVIROBASE® High Performance paint system serving as the preferred paint system across its collision center network.
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD®
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty products that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 50 countries and reported net sales of $15.9 billion in 2025. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com .
Envirobase , the PPG Logo and We protect and beautify the world are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
Ford and Mustang Dark Horse are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company.
National Hot Rod Association and NHRA are registered trademarks of the National Hot Rod Association.
Austin Prock will drive the PPG NITRO MUSTANG DARK HORSE® Funny Car for Tasca Racing during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260225174612/en/
PPG Media Contact:
Samantha Allen
Automotive Refinish
+1 440 334 3164
samantha.allen@ppg.com
