RICHMOND, VA (May 15, 2022) --- Josh Hart and the TechNet Top Fuel dragster team showed their resiliency and mental toughness battling through two days of tricky qualifying conditions. Friday and Saturday as rain showers moved through the Richmond, Virginia area delaying qualifying times and shuffling track temperatures. The team gave each qualifying run their best effort but did not see the results they were looking for. They moved into race day at the No. 13 qualifier on the strength of his final qualifying pass, 3.842 seconds. Hart knew that at NHRA national events like the Virginia Nationals the key is to get into the show because anything can happen on race day.

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“We didn’t have the results we are accustomed to in qualifying,” said Hart, after three rounds of qualifying. “We missed the tune-up just a little and unfortunately the track wasn’t very forgiving for anyone. The good news is I have an amazing team of talented people led by Ron Douglas, so we have a solid gameplan for race day.”

 

In the first round Hart faced veteran Clay Millican who he dropped a close semifinal race to at the Arizona Nationals. The second-year driver held a 1-2 record against Millican going into today’s race.  When both cars launched Millican went into immediate smoke and Hart took off on a smooth, quick run. His winning time of 3.801 seconds was his quickest run of the weekend and a testament to his team’s work ethic. The round win evened his head-to-head record with Millican and advanced the young driver to at least the quarterfinals for the fourth time this season.

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After two days of showers the sun remained out throughout the day today keeping track temperatures on the rise. In the quarterfinals facing the most recent Top Fuel race winner, Mike Salinas, Hart and his TechNet team had lane choice and confidence. Hart was the first off the line with a reaction time advantage and both race cars experienced tire smoke. Each driver battled to regain momentum and Hart’s race car didn’t cooperate as he pedaled the TechNet dragster to no avail. Following the run the team deduced that the pan pressure sensor was tripped and aborted the run. Salinas got to the finish line first, ending Hart’s chances of consecutive semifinal appearances.

 

“I could not be more proud of this TechNet team,” said Hart. “We struggled in qualifying and came out swinging today in the first round with our backs against the wall. That was a great win for us over a tough team. In the second round I bet I pedaled that TechNet dragster 10 times but with that pan pressure sensor active it didn’t matter. We have a couple weeks off and then we are right back at it.”

 

Seven races into the season Hart and the TechNet team continue to be one of the most competitive teams on the circuit. In a tough Top Fuel category Hart will head into June sitting seventh in the Camping World points just one round behind his closest competitor. 

 

Qualifying Results

Q1: 4.181 sec, 203.28 mph; Qual. 14

Q2: 8.666 sec, 82.51 mph; Qual 15

Q3: 3.842 sec, 256.45 mph; Qual. 13

Bonus Points: 0

 

Race Results

 

First Round

Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., TechNet dragster, 3.801, 326.87 mph def. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster, 9.786, 80.10 mph

 

Second Round

Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrapper Racing dragster, 6.686, 204.39 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., TechNet dragster, 8.512, 87.59 mph

 

 

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten - Top Fuel

1. Brittany Force                          605

2. Mike Salinas                            526

3. Steve Torrence                        524

4. Justin Ashley                            468

5. Austin Prock                             367

6. Clay Millican                            365

7. Josh Hart                                 345

8. Doug Kalitta                             316

9. Tony Schumacher                    295

10. Shawn Langdon                     269

 

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