in the lanes

GAINESVILLE, FL (March 12, 2023) --- Yesterday Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster took home the $80,000 top prize as the Pep Boys Top Fuel Allstar Callout specialty race winner. During his post-event press conference, the 2021 Gatornationals winner talked about how humbling the sport of drag racing can be. Through two days of qualifying Hart steadily improved entering race day as the No. 7 qualifier on the strength of his Allstar Callout winning pass which was also his final qualifying run of 3.748 seconds at 331.53 mph. In the first round Hart drew five-time Gatornationals winner Tony Schumacher.

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The R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster team and Hart were looking for their fourth consecutive winlight of the weekend in the first round of race day. Crew chief Ron Douglas continued his tradition of starting the race as the first pair of Top Fuel dragsters and on a track with the best conditions of the weekend the team was ready to keep their winning streak alive at Gainesville Raceway.

Hart’s team made their quickest run of the weekend flying down the right lane in 3.693 seconds at 335.40 mph, both career best marks. Unfortunately, Schumacher was off the starting line first getting his 12,000-horsepower dragster out in front and holding off a charging Hart at the finish line. For Hart, the two-time national event winner, and Pep Boys Allstar Callout champion the Arizona Nationals in two weeks will be his next chance to pick up his first win of the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

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“I said it yesterday about how humbling this sport can be. I was at the top of the mountain yesterday and today I didn’t do my job,” said Hart. “Ron and the guys gave me an amazing race car and I didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. This will only motivate me and I wish the Arizona Nationals started tomorrow. We won the Pep Boys Callout and now we will start focusing on the Camping World Top Fuel world championship. There are a lot of races left in the season.”

After the first race of the season Hart will head to the second race in tenth place in the Top Fuel Camping World points. The NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wildhorse Park Motorsports Park will begin on March 24 affording Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster their next chance to hit the track.

Qualifying Results

Q1: 3.783 sec, 310.84 mph; Qual. 8

Q2: 3.765 sec, 331.77 mph; Qual. 8

Q3: 3.748 sec, 331.53 mph; Qual. 7

Bonus Points:

Race Results

First Round

Tony Schumacher, Austin Tex., SCAG dragster, (.048) 3.722, 322.02 mph def. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster, (.105) 3.693, 335.40 mph

Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Ten - Top Fuel

1.         Mike Salinas               115

2.         Steve Torrence           99

3.         Doug Kalitta                79

4.         Leah Pruett                 77

5.         Brittany Force             67

6.         Antron Brown             54

7.         Austin Prock                52

7.         Tony Schumacher       52

9.         Clay Millican               34

10.       Josh Hart                    33