By: Josh Hart Racing
ST. LOUIS (September 29, 2024) — On race day at the NHRA Midwest Nationals from World Wide Technology Raceway Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers made their best run of the weekend in the opening round of eliminations. Rain washed out the first day of qualifying on Friday giving all the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors only two qualifying runs yesterday on the ultra-quick racing surface. Hart’s best run in qualifying was 3.787 seconds at 323.66 mph and positioned the 2022 NHRA Midwest Nationals Top Fuel runner-up as the No. 14 qualifier out of 19 Top Fuel dragsters.
“Everyone lost a full day of qualifying and I think that put every team behind the eight ball,” said Hart. “We made some OK runs yesterday, but we could have used those two lost qualifying runs. This R+L Carriers team is working really well together, and we just need to keep grinding.”
In the opening round facing the No. 3 qualifier Brittany Force, Hart was feeling confident in the right lane. When the Christmas Tree flashed Hart grabbed a slight starting line advantage with a better reaction time, but as the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters closed in on the finish line Force’s dragster pulled ahead by a nose getting the win with low elapsed time of the event at the time of 3.702 seconds against Hart’s best time of the event, 3.745 seconds.
“We made our best run of the weekend and stepped up with a strong run,” said Hart. “That could have been one of our qualifying runs and who knows how race day would have played out. It was a close race and we just need to take the positive of making solid runs on race day. We have three more races left in the playoffs and we are going to try and make the most of those three races.”
Following the Midwest Nationals, a third race in three weeks, the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will return to their racing shop in Brownsburg, Indiana, to regroup for the 39th annual Texas Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex. Hart and the R+L Carriers team will be focused on going rounds over the final three races and moving up into the Top Ten of the toughest group of Top Fuel dragsters in recent memory.
“There are three races left and we are looking forward to getting ready for the final playoff push,” said Hart. “The Stampede of Speed will be exciting, but our focus will be on making four solid qualifying runs and then winning some rounds on Sunday in Dallas.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster team will be back on track for two qualifying runs to start the Texas Fall Nationals on Friday, October 11 followed by two more runs on Saturday, October 12. The quickest 16 Top Fuel dragsters will race on Sunday, October 13 at noon with the race being broadcast nationally on FS1.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 3.806 sec, 324.98 mph; Qual. 11
Q2: 3.787 sec, 323.66 mph; Qual. 14
Bonus Points: 0
Race Results
First Round
Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Monster Energy dragster, (.088), 3.702 sec, 324.98 mph def.
Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster, (.074), 3.745 sec, 324.05 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing point standings – Top Fuel Championship Points
1. Antron Brown 2344
2. Justin Ashley 2310
3. Shawn Langdon 2284
4. Doug Kalitta 2257
5. Steve Torrence 2256
6. Tony Schumacher 2241
7. Clay Millican 2211
8. Brittany Force 2171
9. Tony Stewart 2150
10. Billy Torrence 2113
11. Shawn Reed 2103
12. Josh Hart 2087
