JOSH HART LOOKING FOR TURNAROUND RACE AT NORWALK NATIONALS

OCALA, FL (June 22, 2022) — Back-to-back races have many benefits for NHRA professional teams. Drivers get into a groove and teams can gel into a more cohesive working unit. For Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team getting back to the track for the NHRA Norwalk Nationals will afford them the opportunity to put a frustrating Thunder Valley Nationals in the figurative rearview mirror. Through two days of qualifying at Bristol Dragway Hart and his Ron Douglas tuned 11,000-horsepower R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster were making consistently quick runs and entered race day as the No. 3 qualifier, their best qualifying position of their young career. They made another solid run in the first round but surprisingly it was not enough to advance to the quarterfinals.

“We had our best qualifying position and we just had a tough first round match-up which shows how competitive this Top Fuel category is,” said Hart, who has two career national event Top Fuel wins. “The good news is we aren’t hurting parts on our R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster and we are making quick runs.”

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Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, photo credit Auto Imagery

Throughout this season Hart and his young team have been chasing several issues breaking in a brand-new Top Fuel dragster. This learning curve has tested the entire team but in Hart’s opinion his team is rising to the occasion every race.

“We have made a lot of improvements throughout the season and I think we have a lot of issues behind us so we can focus on winning rounds and races,” said Hart. “We have a couple semifinal finishes and our qualifying efforts are getting better. We just need to put everything together on race day which I know we can do starting this weekend in Norwalk.”

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Josh Hart with fans, photo credit Auto Imagery

Hart has already gotten his race week started with a daylong appearance to support primary sponsor R+L Carriers on Tuesday. The driver spent the day meeting R+L Carriers employees, posing for photos and signing autographs. The event was one of many Hart attended across the country in support of one of his biggest marketing partners.

“It is an honor to work with a company like R+L Carriers that treats all their employees like family,” said Hart. “They are a true family business that treats everyone with respect. It isn’t hard to get excited to meet and talk with these folks when everyone has a smile on their face. I could not be prouder to represent this company.”

During the Norwalk Nationals in addition to Hart’s race rig R+L Carriers will also have their Hometown Showcase display on the property.  The Hometown Showcase delivers inspiration, scholarships and career opportunities to students across America. The Showcase partners with interested schools and communities to offer support to booster clubs, scholarships and on-site visits to highlight the many careers available including technology, logistics, sales, mechanics, professional drivers and more information in available here: https://hometown.rlcarriers.com/

Hart has been an amazing ambassador on and off the track. In just over twenty professional races the driver from Ocala, Florida has raced to at least the semifinals in half of his races. He also has spent hours with fans and guests talking about the unique employment opportunities across the country with R+L Carriers. At every NHRA National event Hart’s team displays the very competitive compensation structure as well as wide variety of job opportunities available.

“There is nothing cooler than talking with a race fan and then getting them excited about possibly working with R+L Carriers,” said Hart. “Every race I get to talk with people about an opportunity that could change their life. The racing is a lot of fun and very challenging but the time with the fans is what really motivates not just me but the whole team. I am looking forward to seeing a packed house in Norwalk and making some really quick passes.”

The past four national events have seen three of Hart’s best qualifying efforts of the season. He has also advanced to a semifinal and quarterfinal. His two most recent events have seen the kind of race day results the team expects but the overall performance is something that will pay dividends as the season heats up. The Norwalk Nationals will be another warm weather event and July will wrap up with the famed Western Swing. The recent elapsed times posted by Hart’s R+L carriers Top Fuel dragster will give the team every opportunity to start racking up win lights.

“This sport is very unforgiving, but I am not the kind of person that is going to give up,” said Hart. “I have built a few businesses from nothing. This is the first full season for this team, so every race weekend is an opportunity for success. Anything is possible.”

The Norwalk Nationals will be one just a handful of national events to feature four qualifying sessions before eliminations commence on Sunday. The added qualifying run will give Hart’s team more data and put them in a position to succeed. The race will be broadcast nationally on FOX beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.