Story By: ELON WERNER / JOSH HART RACING – OCALA, FL – After two races Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be heading to Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend looking to launch their performance to the next level during NHRA Arizona Nationals in the NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series.
For Hart, a two-time Top Fuel national event winner, the Arizona Nationals will be the next chance to take the positive runs from the NHRA Gatornationals and NHRA Winternationals and turn on more win lights in pursuit of their first win in 2024. The championship caliber Top Fuel team is led by Crew Chief Ron Douglas and an experienced crew.
“We haven’t reached our full potential recently,” said Hart. “We made some serious parts changes towards the end of the season to get on the same level with our competition and that is still taking some time to work everything out. These Top Fuel dragsters are incredible machines from the standpoint of tuning and driving. Every change affects another element, so this is an ongoing process. This weekend I am looking forward to seeing more improvement.”
Last year as the season wrapped up Hart and his R+L Carriers team won some critical first and second round match-up that had championship implications in the class. The improved performance also moved Hart into the Top Ten and gave the team confidence heading into the off-season.
During the pre-season PRO Superstar Shootout held in Bradenton, Florida, Hart was in the mix to race for the $250,000 top prize and as the season began in Gainesville Hart raced to the quarterfinals at his home track.
“We made a lot of passes in Bradenton leading up to and during the PRO Superstar Shootout which was a big deal for us,” said Hart. “We still need more passes, but I felt good in Gainesville at the Gatornationals. Two weeks ago, at the Winternationals Mother Nature didn’t do us any favors and only having three scheduled qualifiers and losing one of those didn’t do anyone any favors. We missed our tune-up on Sunday morning when the conditions changed for everyone. This weekend in Phoenix the conditions should be awesome for some quick and fast passes.”
This will be Hart’s third time racing at Firebird Motorsports Park since his debut in the desert in 2022. Hart started his career at Firebird with a No. 8 qualifying effort and raced to the semifinal round. Last year he was ousted in the first round after qualifying No. 12.
“We definitely want to go rounds at Firebird this weekend,” said Hart. “That is everyone’s goal, but we have a race car that can turn on win lights we just need to get over a couple issues with the tune-up. I think we can come off the trailer with a good run Friday and then make two good runs on Saturday. That will set us up for success on race day.”
Prior to the race United with Love of Huntington County food bank announced the final amount of donations for the Race to Fill the Food Pantry initiative. Brittanie and Josh Hart pledged $10,000 in matching funds during the month of March to support their hometown food bank. United with Love reported that goal was met before the end of the month and in the last week and additional $5,721 dollars was donated bringing the grand total to $15,721 plus the Hart’s $10,000 donation.
“Brittanie and Josh Hart, thank you so much for all of the ways you support your hometown,” said Erin Didion, Executive Director, United with Love of Huntington County. “You are both so inspiring in so many ways and Huntington is proud to call you both our own. To all who supported, shared, and prayed for our food pantry and this challenge, we are so grateful and thankful for you.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers team will be making one qualifying run on Friday, April 5 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, April 6 at Firebird Motorsports Park. The top 16 quickest Top Fuel dragsters in the field will advance in competition to race day on Sunday, April 7.
The first round of eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. PST. Fans can watch the finals on FS1.