BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2026) – The six-race 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship opens with the Sept. 18-20 NHRA Great Lakes Nationals and Josh Hart sees the inaugural event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., as a prime opportunity for his John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel team to reset and compete for the championship.
The David Grubnic/John Collins-led team enters the Countdown in seventh position on the strength of one win (the season-opening Gatornationals), 12 elimination round wins and two No. 1 Qualifier spots (Gainesville, Seattle). Hart is 24 points behind Antron Brown for fifth place and 89 to point leader Doug Kalitta.
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is the first of three consecutive weekends of racing to open the six-event 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The balance of the Countdown includes: the Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock; Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals; Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals; and Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 14 of 20 races are: 1. Doug Kalitta, 2,122; 2. Shawn Langdon, 2,096; 3. Leah Pruett, 2,079; 4. Tony Stewart, 2,061; 5. Antron Brown, 2,057; 6. Maddi Gordon, 2,43; 7. Josh Hart, 2,033; 8. Billy Torrence, 2,024; 9. Justin Ashley, 2,013; 10. Clay Millican, 2,006.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on opening the Countdown to the Championship at a new facility to the series?
“I feel like it’s good fresh territory to turn our program around, so I’m excited about the new location and the new track. More importantly, I’m excited to make another pass in the Speedmaster Top Fuel dragster to collect some good data and set the world on fire again. This team has what it takes to create great success and the playoffs is the best time of the year to do so.”
What are your thoughts on three weekends in a row to start the Countdown to the Championship?
“I think more seat time, more tuning time, keeping everything fresh in your mind over three consecutive weekends sounds pretty good. Repetitive action will hopefully make it a lot easier and keep everybody in a good rhythm.”
How does the team’s focus shift after the points reset and just six races to the championship?
“For me, it’s time to get it done now.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.
2026 Results
SPEEDMASTER TEAM ENTERS COUNTDOWN IN 7TH PLACE
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2026) – The six-race 2026 NHRA Countdown to the Championship opens with the Sept. 18-20 NHRA Great Lakes Nationals and Josh Hart sees the inaugural event at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., as a prime opportunity for his John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel team to reset and compete for the championship.
The David Grubnic/John Collins-led team enters the Countdown in seventh position on the strength of one win (the season-opening Gatornationals), 12 elimination round wins and two No. 1 Qualifier spots (Gainesville, Seattle). Hart is 24 points behind Antron Brown for fifth place and 89 to point leader Doug Kalitta.
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is the first of three consecutive weekends of racing to open the six-event 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The balance of the Countdown includes: the Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock; Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals; Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals; and Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 14 of 20 races are: 1. Doug Kalitta, 2,122; 2. Shawn Langdon, 2,096; 3. Leah Pruett, 2,079; 4. Tony Stewart, 2,061; 5. Antron Brown, 2,057; 6. Maddi Gordon, 2,43; 7. Josh Hart, 2,033; 8. Billy Torrence, 2,024; 9. Justin Ashley, 2,013; 10. Clay Millican, 2,006.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on opening the Countdown to the Championship at a new facility to the series?
“I feel like it’s good fresh territory to turn our program around, so I’m excited about the new location and the new track. More importantly, I’m excited to make another pass in the Speedmaster Top Fuel dragster to collect some good data and set the world on fire again. This team has what it takes to create great success and the playoffs is the best time of the year to do so.”
What are your thoughts on three weekends in a row to start the Countdown to the Championship?
“I think more seat time, more tuning time, keeping everything fresh in your mind over three consecutive weekends sounds pretty good. Repetitive action will hopefully make it a lot easier and keep everybody in a good rhythm.”
How does the team’s focus shift after the points reset and just six races to the championship?
“For me, it’s time to get it done now.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 1 | Beat Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta | 4-0 | 1 |
| Phoenix | 10 | Beat Justin Ashley; lost to Leah Pruett | 5-1 | 2 |
| Pomona1 | 2 | Beat Cameron Ferre; lost to Tony Stewart | 6-2 | 4 |
| Charlotte | 4 | Lost in 1st quad | 6-3 | 5 |
| Valdosta | 9 | Lost to Leah Pruett | 6-4 | 5 |
| Chicago | 4 | Beat Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart; lost to Shawn Langdon | 8-5 | 5 |
| Maryland | 7 | Lost to Clay Millican | 8-6 | 5 |
| Epping | 3 | Beat Rit Pustari; lost to Billy Torrence | 9-7 | 4 |
| Bristol | 6 | Lost to Doug Kalitta | 9-8 | 6 |
| Norwalk | 2 | Beat Scott Farley; lost to Clay Millican | 10-9 | 7 |
| Sonoma | 8 | Lost to Jasmine Salinas | 10-10 | 7 |
| Seattle | 1 | Bye, beat Tony Stewart; lost to Leah Pruett | 12-11 | 7 |
| Brainerd | 10 | Lost to Tony Stewart | 12-12 | 7 |
| Indianapolis | 12 | Lost to Leah Pruett | 12-13 | 7 |