OCALA, FL (September 10, 2025) — Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will start their chase for their first Mission Foods Top Fuel world championship this weekend at the NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear. Hart will be racing at Maple Grove Raceway for the fifth time in his Top Fuel career and the entrepreneur from Ocala, Florida will be looking to reverse a tough record at the historically quick and fast racetrack nestled in the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania. Hart enters the Countdown as the No. 8 driver just 93 points out of first place.
“We need to get off to a strong start in the Countdown and start moving around people from the very first race,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “This is a six-race sprint, and we can’t afford to stumble coming out of the blocks. I have a great crew and when you look at the reaction time averages, I am close to the very top.”
Josh Hart is ready to hang loose at the NHRA Reading Nationals this weekend, photo credit KZ Photography
Josh Hart Looking to Reverse Fortunes at Reading Nationals
OCALA, FL (September 10, 2025) — Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will start their chase for their first Mission Foods Top Fuel world championship this weekend at the NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish Ultimate Gear. Hart will be racing at Maple Grove Raceway for the fifth time in his Top Fuel career and the entrepreneur from Ocala, Florida will be looking to reverse a tough record at the historically quick and fast racetrack nestled in the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania. Hart enters the Countdown as the No. 8 driver just 93 points out of first place.
“We need to get off to a strong start in the Countdown and start moving around people from the very first race,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “This is a six-race sprint, and we can’t afford to stumble coming out of the blocks. I have a great crew and when you look at the reaction time averages, I am close to the very top.”
Josh Hart is ready to hang loose at the NHRA Reading Nationals this weekend, photo credit KZ Photography
Hart is essentially in a tie for second place for best reaction times with two other Countdown contenders, Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon. The ability to get off the starting line first is something that has become critical in Top Fuel racing as the elapsed time differences have become razor thin.
“I have been really dedicating a lot of time to improving and fine tuning my reaction times and my processes in the R+L Carriers dragster for the past two years,” said Hart. “It makes a difference and starting this weekend in Reading this whole team will be focused on minimizing mistakes and focusing on all the little details. The weather should be tremendous, and we need to roll off the trailer and start making quick runs. I want to get qualifying bonus points every round of qualifying.”
When the championship points reset at the end of the regular season each driver was separated by 10 points and Hart knows that the 3-2-1 qualifying bonus points can add up quickly to close the gap. Through the redistribution of points, Hart is not just over four rounds out of first place and qualifying bonus points could elevate him even higher with four quick runs at Maple Grove Raceway.
“I am a very competitive person, and we have struggled this year,” said Hart. “A lot of the frustration can go away with a strong performance at the Reading Nationals. My crew have been working all season to give us a chance for this championship. I’ll also be racing my Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger, and I want to see some positive results there too.”
Racing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series was a challenge Hart took on this year at the urging for Flexjet competitor David Davies II. Hart and Davies have created a racing alliance across both classes, and the increased track time has been a blessing for Hart.
“I like to stay busy at the track and running Top Fuel and Flexjet Factory Stock keeps me hopping,” said Hart. “I am looking forward to the race when I am going rounds in each class. It could happen this weekend and that would be really cool. The guys in the Flexjet Factory Stock class have been great to race with.”
Pulling double duty has Hart hyper-focused on the task at hand which is turning on win lights for sponsor R+L Carriers who has been with him his entire professional career. The partnership has focused on the dynamic business-to-business relationships and marketing opportunities for R+L Carriers, one of the nation’s leaders in the freight-shipping industry. At most races Hart hosts R+L Carriers guests and employees giving them a front row seat to the fastest motorsport on the planet.
“There is no way I am racing without the support from everyone at R+L Carriers, especially their leadership team,” said Hart. “This is more than a logo on a race car. We have a great personal and professional relationship. Getting to spend time with my R+L Carriers teammates at the races is a huge motivator.”
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be on track for two qualifying sessions on Friday, September 12 and two sessions on Saturday, September 13. The quickest 16 Top Fuel dragsters will go head-to-head for four rounds on Sunday with the winner hoisting the iconic Wally trophy at the end of the day. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.maplegroveraceway.com and they can watch all the racing action on FS1 throughout the weekend.
