By: Josh Hart Racing
OCALA, FL (October 8, 2024) — Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be heading to the Lone Star State for the 39th annual NHRA Texas Fall Nationals looking to turn the back half of the NHRA Countdown into their launching point for 2025. They are racing for a spot in the Top Ten as well as looking to add to add to their career win total with three races left in the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Throughout the season Hart and the team have been staying positive.
“This is one of the toughest classes to win and this year we have seen the level of competition take a big step up,” said Hart, a two-time Top Fuel national event winner. “We have stubbed our toe a couple times, but really this is just a tough, tough class no matter where you qualify. We have been qualified in the top half and gotten multi-time world champions in the first round.”
This will be Hart’s fourth appearance at the Texas Motorplex for the Stampede of Speed and the driver from Ocala, Florida, has enjoyed all the Texas activities leading up to the event including the Thursday night Pre-Stage Fan Fest in downtown Waxahachie. He will also be racing for the Friday night low ET bonus money, a $15,000 check, for the quickest Top Fuel team during the second qualifying session.
“The Meyer family and their team do a great job making this event feel like a special race,” said Hart. “I love the whole idea of the Stampede of Speed. We do a big car show and autograph session at Burnyzz Speed Shop in advance of the Gatornationals and this is pretty cool too. I am looking forward to the Thursday night Pre-Stage Fan Fest because they will have a ton of fans there before the race starts, and the Railyard Park venue in Waxahachie is always really nice.”
Hart’s best effort at the Texas Fall Nationals came during his rookie season when he qualified No. 6 and raced to the semifinals. That year he outran Leah Pruett and Mike Salinas before dropping a close race to Steve Torrence. Hart is looking forward to an improved performance after the three in a row start to the Countdown. The week off gave the R+L Carriers team a chance to regroup, rest and refresh for the final push of the NHRA playoffs.
“Three races in a row was a gauntlet, but we survived and learned a few things,” said Hart. “We took some time after St. Louis, and I think we will be ready for Dallas. It will be hot and that doesn’t bother [crew chief] Ron Douglas. We can get our car down a hot track. I am looking forward to starting off qualifying with some good runs and seeing what can happen after that.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will make two qualifying runs on Friday, October 11 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, October 12 at Texas Motorplex. The top 16 quickest Top Fuel dragsters in the field will then advance to race day on Sunday, October 13, attempting to take home a Wally. The first round of eliminations will begin on Sunday at 12 p.m. CDT. Fans can watch the finals on FS1. For tickets or more information on the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals visit nhra.com.
