JOSH HART TAKING NEW ATTITUDE TO BRAINERD

OCALA, FL (August 12, 2025) --- A couple of weeks off the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series allows drivers and teams to refresh and recharge. Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers team took advantage of one of the off weeks to keep getting better racing at the iconic Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The massively popular event run by the Bader family gave Hart a wakeup call on a variety of levels and has the Top Fuel team owner and driver ready to take on the final eight races of the NHRA season starting this weekend at the Lucas Oil Nationals with a positive attitude and new focus.

“The Western Swing was a challenge for me,” said Hart. “After Seattle I was very frustrated and my wife Brittanie set me straight. She said if I wasn’t having fun I should just sell everything and do something else. I went into Sonoma looking for a reason to keep racing and I found it. We made some progress but what really opened my eyes was the Night Under Fire.”

The one-day event built around entertaining tens of thousands of fans with nitro cars, jet dragsters, factory stock cars and alcohol competitors spoke to Hart. As a former Top Alcohol Dragster driver seeing those competitors get the star treatment was impressive. Hart is racing a factory stock Dodge Challenger this season and watching some of his fellow door slammer competitors fire up the crowd was also special. Finally, racing his R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster and spending time with R+L Carriers employees in a casual and fun environment re-energized the championship contending driver.

Josh Hart parades in front of the Norwalk grandstands at Night Under Fire, photo credit Krista Zivcic Photography

“The atmosphere and overall feeling at the Night Under Fire was so different than an NHRA national event,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “I loved the pace of the show and the fans never left their seats. The Baders had everything timed perfectly. I had a blast and we got to make some passes to get ready for Brainerd. The biggest take away for me was I had fun driving. I am ready to get to Brainerd and finish out the regular season.”

Hart is comfortably in the Top Fuel Top Ten and could make a serious move up the point standings with success in Brainerd and then the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, with points and half. Last season Hart raced to the semifinals with strong runs on race day and in 2022 Hart started race day as the No. 2 qualifier. Racing in the land of 10,000 lakes is a unique experience for all the teams but Hart enjoys the rustic and passionate fans that turn out to Brainerd International Raceway.

The R+L Carriers Top Fuel team led by Josh Hart will be looking for more Brainerd success this weekend,

photo credit Krista Zivcic Photography

“There is a lot of history at Brainerd International Raceway and we have had some success here,” said Hart. “The track can be very quick and fast so we are looking to make the most of that on Friday and Saturday. We want to get a good qualifying spot and maybe catch a break with a bye run on Sunday. We have been getting out of the first round but we need to get deep into Sunday if we are going to move up in points.”

The R+L Carriers team has been steadily improving all season, but they have not put a complete race weekend together this year. Everyone on the team is focused on making sure the final eight races of the season continue that upward trajectory. Hart has continued to work on his skills in the cockpit and the crew chief combo of Ron Douglas and Jason McCulloch have been putting a solid race car underneath him.

“We have all the pieces and personnel to be a championship contending team,” said Hart. “This sport is very humbling and just because you are doing all the right things sometimes you just need a break. I am not looking for luck. We are working to take advantage of every opportunity this weekend and beyond.”

Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, August 15 and then two more qualifying runs on August 16 at Brainerd International Raceway. The 16 Top Fuel dragsters with the quickest elapsed times after four rounds of qualifying will compete on race day on Sunday, August 17 at 10:30 a.m. CT. Fans can watch the race on FS1 and FOX. For tickets or more information on the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals visit nhra.com.