Double Duty at U.S. Nationals has Josh Hart Focused and Motivated

OCALA, FL (August 27, 2025) --- The biggest race of the year brings out the best in every championship contending team. For two-time U.S. Nationals winner Josh Hart, he will be looking to add a third and possibly fourth U.S. Nationals win in two additional categories. Hart captured two U.S. Nationals wins in Top Alcohol Dragster in 2018 and 2019 and the multi-time Top Fuel national event winner and rookie in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown class will be pulling double duty at this weekend’s Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. The Huntington, Indiana, native is looking forward to building on his drag racing legacy in his home state.

“I'm originally from Indiana, and that was my first national event win on the largest stage in drag racing when I won in Top Alcohol Dragster,” said Hart. “I absolutely think it's monumental. There's no bigger race. Obviously, every win is super significant, but Indianapolis and the Top Fuel class are the top. It's the cream of the crop. It kind of marks you forever with the NHRA.

The R+L Carriers Top Fuel team and Josh Hart will looking to wrap up the regular season with a U.S. Nationals win.

Throughout the 2025 season Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team have been building positive momentum. As the regular season concludes at the end of the U.S. Nationals the R+L Carriers team could move from the 8th spot in the points to as high as 6th with a strong performance.

“We've been fighting for position all year, so it's obviously extremely important,” said Hart. “We're grateful for Mission Foods making a regular season championship. We're just going to keep scraping and clawing and trying to get as high as we can.”

The first time Hart attended the U.S. Nationals he was far from the accomplished driver that will be piloting a 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster and the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger Drag Pak in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series. He knows this is the biggest race of the season simply by coming on the property when the games open this week.

“I attended a car show there while drag racing was happening in the background,” said Hart. “I would say I was probably 18 or 19 years old, and I was like, wow, this is awesome, but that was my first race I ever attended. This race has a different vibe about it. There's going to be a flood of cars that show up. Everybody brings their A Game. Everybody's out for blood. You have to go into that race dialed in and prepared.

Hart’s focus for winning this race and building momentum for the six-race playoffs is unwavering. The entrepreneur has built several businesses from the ground up and looks at his racing program through the same lens. It comes down to preparation and focus.

“I think you have to be preparing for this race and the playoffs all season,” said Hart. “You start preparing for the end of the regular season, and you know that no matter where you're at, you still have a shot when you go in there with points and a half, so you just mentally prepare, knowing that everything from that race forward will dictate the season.”

Hart will have five qualifying sessions in Top Fuel over three days to grab one of the 16 spots in the qualified field. In the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series the teams will receive four qualifying runs and since there are over 22 entries it will be an all-run field and Hart will have to fight his way through five rounds of eliminations if he wants to hoist the Factory Stock Showdown Wally.

“Racing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown class keeps me sharp for Top Fuel,” said Hart. “Any time you can stay in race mode that is a good thing. I will get nine runs down the track and then get to go into eliminations. I don’t think anyone else in Top Fuel is going to have that much track time. I am going to take every opportunity to get ready for race day in both classes.”

Before the on-track action gets started Hart will join a host of NHRA stars at the Cruz Pedregon open House to benefit Riley’s Children’s Hospital on Thursday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Hart will participate in the driver autograph session that starts at 7 p.m.

“There are all kinds of extra events before and during the U.S. Nationals and I am excited to get to spend time with fans and support a great cause like Riley’s Children’s Hospital,” said Hart. “My daughter Londyn will also be raising money on Sunday morning at the race for Riley’s Children’s Hospital. The Princess Lemonade Stand will once again be set up in Steve Torrence’s Capco pit area and everyone is encouraged to stop by get some lemonade and make a donation.”

Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will get one qualifying run on Friday night and then two runs each day on Saturday and Sunday. He will race his Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger twice on Friday and twice on Saturday before going into eliminations on Sunday. Fans can tune in to FS1 and FOX for coverage of the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals.