By: Josh Hart Racing
OCALA, FL (March 19, 2025) — Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back on track for the 40th Arizona NHRA Nationals this weekend at Firebird Motorsports Park outside of Phoenix looking to build momentum for their 2025 championship run. Two weeks ago, at the season opener in Gainesville, Florida, rain plagued the event, cutting the qualifying opportunities in half and creating tough racing conditions for all the teams on race day. Hart and the R+L Carriers team are looking forward to four qualifying runs and a solid race day effort.
“I feel like Gainesville was a tough situation because we were dealt bad hand with the weather,” said Hart. “That first round was a good luck type of deal. No one really knew what to expect and you were just hoping to go down the track. I am happy we came home OK and had no major parts damaged.”
photo credit Krista Zivcic Photography
Hart’s history at Firebird Motorsports Park has been a mixed bag of success and frustration. In 2022, at his first start in the desert he qualified No. 8 and raced to a semifinal finish. The next two appearances saw his team make some solid runs in qualifying but never advance to the quarterfinals. This year Hart is focused on making the most out of the qualifying runs and turning on four win lights on Sunday.
“Phoenix should be incredible,” said Hart. “The weather will be epic, and cars will be flying down the track. I can’t wait to get there and start making quick runs.”
Since his rookie debut in 2021 when Hart won his first professional start as well as a Countdown race in the fall the entrepreneur from Florida has expanded his racing program and added key elements to his team. The multi-time Top Alcohol Dragster driver has been in the championship mix at the highest level but this year with the addition of some key personnel Hart is feeling confident about winning the Top Fuel championship. Over the off-season Hart hired veteran chief Jason “Jake” McCulloch as well as Joe Barlam to work with long-time R+L Carriers crew chief Ron Douglas.
photo credit Krista Zivcic Photography
“I am calling Ron, Jake and Joe the three musketeers,” said Hart. “I am very happy with the brain power and how well they are working together. These are three of the smartest guys in the sport backing one car, the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster.”
The competition for the Top Fuel championship will be intense but Hart and his R+L Carriers team that also receives backing from Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala, Florida, will be prepared and eager to take on the task. Friday will provide the team with their first opportunity to tackle the Firebird Motorsports Park track with two qualifying sessions, on Saturday they will get two more runs with the chance to grab their first No. 1 qualifier of the season and move into race day on Sunday with lane choice. Final eliminations are slated for 11 a.m. local time and fans can watch the race live on nhra.tv or catch the FS1 broadcast later Sunday.
