OCALA, FL (October 8, 2025) — With three races left in the NHRA Countdown Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be looking to finish the season on a high note and carry momentum into the off-season. The 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and the Stampede of Speed will create a Texas size opportunity for Hart, an entrepreneur and team owner from Florida, to make a move up the point standings. The team is locked into the Top Ten, but Hart wants to move up as high as possible in the point standings down the home stretch.
“We have three more races to turn on as many win lights as possible on race day,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “It all starts with qualifying. We’ll have two shots on Friday, and we need to make the most of them. On Saturday we’ll have two more runs and we need to use those to get as much info for Sunday as possible.”
Josh Hart will be looking to Texas and the Stampede of Speed to finish season strong, photo credit KZ Photography
JOSH HART READY TO TAKE ON TEXAS FALL NATIONALS
OCALA, FL (October 8, 2025) — With three races left in the NHRA Countdown Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be looking to finish the season on a high note and carry momentum into the off-season. The 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and the Stampede of Speed will create a Texas size opportunity for Hart, an entrepreneur and team owner from Florida, to make a move up the point standings. The team is locked into the Top Ten, but Hart wants to move up as high as possible in the point standings down the home stretch.
“We have three more races to turn on as many win lights as possible on race day,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “It all starts with qualifying. We’ll have two shots on Friday, and we need to make the most of them. On Saturday we’ll have two more runs and we need to use those to get as much info for Sunday as possible.”
Josh Hart will be looking to Texas and the Stampede of Speed to finish season strong, photo credit KZ Photography
The second qualifying session at the Texas Fall Nationals will feature the “Battle for the Saddle” bonus race. The quickest Top Fuel dragster in the second session will win $15,000 plus additional prizes from JEGS, the sponsor of JEGS Friday Night Live! The chance to add some bonus money on Friday night has Hart’s attention.
“The Stampede of Speed started the Battle of the Saddle a few years ago and it made Friday night at Texas Motorplex pretty awesome,” said Hart. “We have seen more tracks this year doing specialty prizes or awards on Friday but the chance to grab $15,000 for one run is a great incentive. I know everyone will be gunning for that and I would love to be the last driver on that saddle to get the cash.”
As the season winds down Hart and the R+L Carriers team have shown flashes of consistency, but they are looking to the Texas Fall Nationals as the opportunity to put a complete race weekend together. Hart has consistently been one of the best drivers off the starting line with a top three average reaction time in the class amongst full-time Top Fuel drivers. The opportunity to grab a low qualifying position will present itself with consistent temperatures and the Motorplex’s famed all-concrete racing surface.
“I think we have all the pieces in place to make some really quick runs,” said Hart. “I have the best crew guys and I have a lot of confidence they are giving me a really good race car. You have to make your own luck and this sport will humble you very quickly. I can’t wait to get to the track.”
On Thursday night Hart will join nearly 60 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors along with the JEGS Allstar racers at the Prestage Fan Fest at Railyard Park in downtown Waxahachie for a free driver autograph session from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The event has grown to be one of the largest outdoor events in Waxahachie with race fans filling the park to meet drivers and see exhibition cars on display.
“I love doing Fan Fests all across the country and the Stampede of Speed event is one the biggest we do,” said Hart. “It will be great to meet the fans before the race starts. Events like this get you excited to get to the track because there are always fans that give you a good pep talk. I love getting inspiration from this event that I can then take back home, to the Fan Fest that we host at Burnyzz for the Gatornationals.”
The R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be on track in qualifying for two sessions on Friday and two on Saturday. Final eliminations for the quickest 16 Top Fuel dragster will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. The race will be broadcast on FOX nationally and fans can get more information by visiting www.stampedeofspeed.com.
