JOSH HART RACES TO QUARTERFINALS IN BRISTOL
By: Josh Hart Racing
BRISTOL, TENN. (June 8, 2025) — Josh Hart and the TechNet/R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster rolled into Bristol Dragway looking to get their momentum back for a race to their first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world championship. An early exit last weekend at the New England Nationals was dismissed as an aberration for the multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. The TechNet Top Fuel team rolled off the trailer on Friday at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and posted the second quickest elapsed time of the session grabbing two qualifying bonus points and a strong start to the eighth event of the season. The second qualifying session was rained out on Friday and Hart made the most of the two sessions on Saturday sliding into eliminations as the No. 6 Top Fuel dragster with lane choice over Doug Kalitta.
“We made a good run in the first round but we lost lane choice,” said Hart. “Every Top Fuel team struggled in that right lane so we knew we would have our hands full with Langdon. We put a plan together and it almost made it past the tough section but then the tires broke loose.”
Hart and Kalitta left the starting line together and Hart made a solid pass in the left lane while Kalitta smoked the tires in the right lane. Hart’s winning time of 4.026 second at 311.85 mph was enough for the win but did not give the TechNet Top Fuel team lane choice in the quarterfinals.
“That first round win over Doug Kalitta was big for our team,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “He has been running really well and that is a big boost to our team. This weekend we made a great run right off the trailer on Friday and that set us up for success.”
In the quarterfinals racing Kalitta’s teammate Shawn Langdon Hart was moved over to the right lane that was a challenge for Top Fuel teams all day. Langdon was first off the line and never trailed in the drag race even though he smoked the tires at about half-track. Hart overpowered the tricky right lane and expertly gathered up his TechNet Top Fuel dragster, attempting to track down Langdon. Hart was close to advancing to the semifinals but ran out of race track. Langdon’s winning elapsed time of 4.460 seconds was quicker than Hart’s 5.086 second run but at the finish line Hart was running 266.79 mph and gaining against Langdon’s 245.90 mph run.
“Langdon and I both got into trouble and I tried to run him down,” said Hart. “I just ran out of race track. We will go back to the shop and be ready for the Virginia Nationals. We are in the Top Ten and held our position there. There are more races left for us to close the gap on the drivers in front of us.”
In the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series Hart and his Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger Drag Pak faced off with DHDR teammate David Davies II in the first round. Davies entered race day as the No. 7 qualifier versus Hart as the No. 10 qualifier. Davies took the win with an elapsed time of 9.135 seconds at 168.96 mph to Hart’s 9.979 second 146.51 mph pass.
“It was cool to race David since he and DHDR have been so instrumental in getting my program off the ground,” said Hart, a long-time Dodge backer. “I am figuring this class out every race. It is a lot of fun to leave the starting line, carry the front end in a wheelie and then make a pass at over 170 mph. We have a few more races this season and I am looking forward to more success.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back in action at the American Rebel Light Virgina Nationals, June 21-22, at Virginia Motorsports Park. He will be back behind the wheel of the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 27-29 at Summit Motorsports Park.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 3.860 sec, 324.67 mph; Qual. 2
Q2: Session rained out
Q3: 8.075 sec, 89.83 mph; Qual. 5
Q4: 8.443 sec, 86.86 mph; Qual. 6
Bonus points: +2 (2nd Quickest of Q1)
Race Results
First Round
Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., TechNet Top Fuel dragster, (.071), 4.026 sec, 311.85 mph def. Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., Aflac Top Fuel dragster, (.075), 4.754 sec, 224.92 mph
Second Round
Shawn Langdon, Avon, Ind., KalittaAir.com/Careers Top Fuel dragster, (.059), 4.460 sec, 245.90 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., TechNet Top Fuel dragster, (.071), 5.086 sec, 266.79 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Top Fuel
1. Tony Stewart 700
2. Shawn Langdon 624
3. Antron Brown 558
4. Justin Ashley 538
5. Doug Kalitta 533
6. Brittany Force 490
7. Steve Torrence 450
8. Clay Millican 385
9. Josh Hart 367
10. Shawn Reed 330
