SONOMA, CALIF. (July 27, 2025) — The R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster team led by Josh Hart continues to improve with quicker performance numbers. Today at the Denso Sonoma Nationals Hart raced to another quarterfinal finish keeping a firm hold on his Top Ten position in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series point standings. Through two days of qualifying leading up to race day Hart’s R+L Carriers Top Fuel team methodically improved posting quicker elapsed time runs and eventually heading into race day as the No. 6 qualified Top Fuel dragster at Sonoma Raceway. His efforts set up another first round match-up with Tony Stewart.
Succeeding a tough first round outing in Seattle with Stewart getting the victory Hart reflected on his race weekend. Following a conversation with his wife Brittanie the multi-time winner came into Sonoma with a new attitude.
Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel raced to the quarterfinals at the Sonoma Nationals,
photo credit Krista Zivcic Photography
“After Seattle my wife said, ‘If it’s not fun and you’re not going to focus you should park it and come home,’ said Hart. “Like usual she was right so thanks to her and all the amazing fans at Sonoma Raceway. I can say it was a fun weekend and I was able to focus heading into the first round.”
Hart and Stewart were two of the best drivers in the first round advancing to at least the quarterfinals, almost every national event. In fact, Stewart had never lost in the first round this season. Hart was first off the starting line and Stewart’s streak came to an end as Hart never trailed in the race winning with a 3.746 second pass.
In the second round Hart drew 2024 Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta in a tough match up with two of the best leavers in the category. Kalitta was the No. 2 qualifier and Hart knew he needed to be at the top of his game to give the R+L Carriers team their best shot to advance to the semifinals. He was first off the line with a great .054 second reaction time but his 12,000-horsepower R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster overpowered the track and Kalitta made a smooth pass in the lane beside the Ocala, Florida, entrepreneur and owner of Burnyzz Speed Shop.
“As a driver you only get control of your attitude and reaction time,” said Hart. “This weekend I did a good job with both. Thank you to our amazing team, all the awesome fans out here and most of all my wife for changing my perspective for this event.”
The R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be back in action at the Lucas Oil Nationals, August 14-17, at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 3.760 sec, 331.28 mph; Qual. 6
Q2: 3.737 sec; 328.62 mph; Qual. 6
Q3: 3.704 sec; 331.53 mph; Qual. 6
Q4: 9.411 sec; 82.18 mph; Qual. 6
Bonus points: +1 (3rd quickest of Q3)
Race Results
First Round
Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, (.060), 3.746 sec, 329.26 mph def. Tony Stewart, Columbus, Ind., Mobil1 dragster, (.076), 10.343 sec, 68.96 mph
Second Round
Doug Kalitta, Ypsilanti, Mich., Mac Tools dragster, (.081), 3.719 sec, 336.65 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster, (.054), 4.813 sec, 153.30 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Point Standings – Top Fuel
1. Shawn Langdon 990
2. Tony Stewart 942
3. Justin Ashley 879
4. Doug Kalitta 869
5. Antron Brown 779
6. Brittany Force 738
7. Clay Millican 615
8. Steve Torrence 569
9. Josh Hart 539
10. Shawn Reed 422