DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — At one of the biggest races of the NHRA Countdown for the Championship Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team were looking to make a move towards their first Top Fuel world championship. After two days of qualifying in front of packed grandstands at Texas Motorplex’s Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals the driver and team owner from Florida had his race day cut short by Texan Steve Torrence in the first round.
Hart was the No. 10 qualifier after posting his quickest qualifying time of 3.740 seconds at 330.79 mph during the spectacular JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying round. In the third qualifying session on Saturday morning Hart made the quickest run of the session and earned three qualifying bonus points. The team was confident heading into race day.
Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts
When Hart and Torrence rolled up for the first round, they were the final pair of 12,000-horsepowered Top Fuel dragsters. Hart was the first off the starting line with a reaction time advantage of .072 to .087 seconds. The lead lasted for the first third of the race when the R+L Carriers race car overpowered the track and while Hart was trying to pedal his race car Torrence was out in front. Torrence also ran into traction issues, but he was able to hold on for the round win.
Hart continued to establish himself as one of the best drivers off the starting line and the tricky track conditions derailed his race car’s mechanical performance. Hart has consistently talked about his confidence in his crew and their determination to succeed at the highest level of NHRA drag racing.
“I know my crew guys on this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster are amazing,” saif Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “These races are so tough, and the sport is so humbling. I am blessed to be able to come out here and chase my dream. Steve is a great champion and we just didn’t have things go our way today.”
Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts
Hart will leave Dallas in 10th place in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship point standings. He will head to the final two national events set for Las Vegas, Nevada, and Pomona, California, looking to end the season with a win and have an impact on the championship outcome. Since his rookie season Hart has been known as a fierce competitor and tough matchup in the final two races of the Countdown.
“We are going to these final two races looking for more national event wins,” said Hart. “The other Countdown contending cars know we are going to give them our best. The best thing about finishing the season in Las Vegas and Pomona is there will be huge crowds and the pressure will be big. I thrive in those types of environments.”
In addition to his on-track performance Hart was also spending time with the Burnyzz Speed Shop display at the Texas Fall Nationals. The high-performance speed shop and custom car purveyor showed off several high-end classic cars all weekend. Burnyzz Speed Shop, based in Ocala, Florida, is looking to expand nationally in 2026 and they have been using NHRA national events to showcase their amazing collection of classic cars.
“We are excited about the future of Burnyzz Speed Shop and our expansion plan for sure,” said Hart. “The NHRA is a great marketing opportunity and when you can combine high performance racing and high performance classic and custom cars, that is pretty awesome.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back on track for the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, October 30 – November 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.117 sec, 221.50 mph; Qual. 12
Q2: 3.740 sec; 330.79 mph; Qual. 10
Q3: 3.793 sec; 330.23 mph; Qual. 10
Q4: 4.146 sec; 217.64 mph; Qual. 10
Bonus points: +3 (Quickest of Q3)
Race Results
First Round
Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Tex., CAPCO Top Fuel dragster, (.087), 3.993 sec, 264.07 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, (.072), 4.194 sec, 208.21 mph
Short Race Day for Hart at Stampede of Speed
DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — At one of the biggest races of the NHRA Countdown for the Championship Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team were looking to make a move towards their first Top Fuel world championship. After two days of qualifying in front of packed grandstands at Texas Motorplex’s Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals the driver and team owner from Florida had his race day cut short by Texan Steve Torrence in the first round.
Hart was the No. 10 qualifier after posting his quickest qualifying time of 3.740 seconds at 330.79 mph during the spectacular JEGS Friday Night Live! qualifying round. In the third qualifying session on Saturday morning Hart made the quickest run of the session and earned three qualifying bonus points. The team was confident heading into race day.
Josh Hart continued to dominate the starting line at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals,
photo credit Innovation Creative Experts
When Hart and Torrence rolled up for the first round, they were the final pair of 12,000-horsepowered Top Fuel dragsters. Hart was the first off the starting line with a reaction time advantage of .072 to .087 seconds. The lead lasted for the first third of the race when the R+L Carriers race car overpowered the track and while Hart was trying to pedal his race car Torrence was out in front. Torrence also ran into traction issues, but he was able to hold on for the round win.
Hart continued to establish himself as one of the best drivers off the starting line and the tricky track conditions derailed his race car’s mechanical performance. Hart has consistently talked about his confidence in his crew and their determination to succeed at the highest level of NHRA drag racing.
“I know my crew guys on this R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster are amazing,” saif Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “These races are so tough, and the sport is so humbling. I am blessed to be able to come out here and chase my dream. Steve is a great champion and we just didn’t have things go our way today.”
Hart credited his crew with continuing to give their all as the season winds down,photo credit Innovation Creative Experts
Hart will leave Dallas in 10th place in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series championship point standings. He will head to the final two national events set for Las Vegas, Nevada, and Pomona, California, looking to end the season with a win and have an impact on the championship outcome. Since his rookie season Hart has been known as a fierce competitor and tough matchup in the final two races of the Countdown.
“We are going to these final two races looking for more national event wins,” said Hart. “The other Countdown contending cars know we are going to give them our best. The best thing about finishing the season in Las Vegas and Pomona is there will be huge crowds and the pressure will be big. I thrive in those types of environments.”
In addition to his on-track performance Hart was also spending time with the Burnyzz Speed Shop display at the Texas Fall Nationals. The high-performance speed shop and custom car purveyor showed off several high-end classic cars all weekend. Burnyzz Speed Shop, based in Ocala, Florida, is looking to expand nationally in 2026 and they have been using NHRA national events to showcase their amazing collection of classic cars.
“We are excited about the future of Burnyzz Speed Shop and our expansion plan for sure,” said Hart. “The NHRA is a great marketing opportunity and when you can combine high performance racing and high performance classic and custom cars, that is pretty awesome.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back on track for the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, October 30 – November 2, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.117 sec, 221.50 mph; Qual. 12
Q2: 3.740 sec; 330.79 mph; Qual. 10
Q3: 3.793 sec; 330.23 mph; Qual. 10
Q4: 4.146 sec; 217.64 mph; Qual. 10
Bonus points: +3 (Quickest of Q3)
Race Results
First Round
Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Tex., CAPCO Top Fuel dragster, (.087), 3.993 sec, 264.07 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, (.072), 4.194 sec, 208.21 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Top Fuel
1. Doug Kalitta 2525
2. Justin Ashley 2384
3. Shawn Langdon 2366
4. Steve Torrence 2297
5. Brittany Force 2291
6. Tony Stewart 2289
7. Clay Millican 2279
8. Shawn Reed 2255
9. Antron Brown 2242
10. Josh Hart 2152
