BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 24, 2026) – Josh Hart knows what it’s like to make it to the final round of NHRA Top Fuel competition at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park but not pop the champagne cork afterward so that’s exactly what he and the Speedmaster team intend to do during the June 26-28 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.
The Ocala, Fla.-based driver kicked off 2026 with a win at the NHRA season-opener in Gainesville, Fla., so he’s already experienced victory in his first year behind the wheel for John Force Racing. A key motivation to do so again this weekend in Norwalk is the sting of making his third career final round there in 2022 but not completing the task in a rain-delayed final round against Mike Salinas.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after nine of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 920; 2. Doug Kalitta, 806; 3. Leah Pruett, 693; 4. Tony Stewart, 533; 5. Antron Brown, 517; 6. Josh Hart, 500; 7. Maddi Gordon, 499; 8. Billy Torrence, 466; 9. Justin Ashley, 419; 10. Clay Millican, 365.
Quotes
Norwalk marks the halfway point of the season so what are your thoughts on the team’s first-half performance?
“I would say we’re learning more and more every day. We’re not where we want to be but I think everybody knows that. We expect to qualify in the Top 5 in every race no matter what. We expect to win every race and we’ve struggled the last couple. Now it’s time to get serious.”
Are you thinking about the point standings at this point of the season or is it just each round individually?
“Yes, absolutely. You can say what you want but everybody’s paying attention. There is still a regular season championship to win. We want to claw our way to at least the No. 3 spot, and that’s a tall feat. There are a lot of moving pieces. I don’t know if, mathematically, that’s possible, but we’re going to try to win the next couple of races going into Indy. And I think we have a really good shot at doing that. I also think that we will have a really good shot at getting our speed record back.”
Talk about what that speed record means to you, to have the fastest race car in the sport.
“David Grubnic and John Collins (crew chiefs) are probably not as excited about that as they lead on. They’re more worried about elapsed times and winning races. I want it all. For me to be able to say that I am piloting the fastest car in the world is something that’s on my bucket list this year. I think that we started off strong and we’ve gotten off that path, but I’m very confident we’ll find our way back.”
What are your memories of your runner-up finish at Norwalk in 2022, where you made your third career final-round appearance?
“It was the perfect storm against us. We had the car. We had the driver. Everything was in our favor, and then the rain came. I remember when the rain came, I walked by Salinas’s pit and watched them freshen up their car. I think they even put a new bullet in it. So, when we got the opportunity to run the final, I felt like that was a move we should have made and we didn’t do it. We just fell short in every column so we’d love nothing more to to win that race this weekend. “
What did you do with the off weekend after three races in a row?
“I got all my T’s crossed and I’s dotted at Burnyzz. I worked my tail off at the office and then I did not leave the house for three days. I stayed in my little safe place with my family spent as much time as I possibly could squeeze out of it. And now I’m back in the saddle.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Sat., June 27, from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools display in the midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 6 and 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 26, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 27, at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 28.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on Sunday, June 28, from 12 – 2 p.m. ET on FS1, leading into eliminations from 5:30 9 ET on FOX.
Race Results
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 5-4
2026 Results
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The Ocala, Fla.-based driver kicked off 2026 with a win at the NHRA season-opener in Gainesville, Fla., so he’s already experienced victory in his first year behind the wheel for John Force Racing. A key motivation to do so again this weekend in Norwalk is the sting of making his third career final round there in 2022 but not completing the task in a rain-delayed final round against Mike Salinas.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after nine of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 920; 2. Doug Kalitta, 806; 3. Leah Pruett, 693; 4. Tony Stewart, 533; 5. Antron Brown, 517; 6. Josh Hart, 500; 7. Maddi Gordon, 499; 8. Billy Torrence, 466; 9. Justin Ashley, 419; 10. Clay Millican, 365.
Quotes
Norwalk marks the halfway point of the season so what are your thoughts on the team’s first-half performance?
“I would say we’re learning more and more every day. We’re not where we want to be but I think everybody knows that. We expect to qualify in the Top 5 in every race no matter what. We expect to win every race and we’ve struggled the last couple. Now it’s time to get serious.”
Are you thinking about the point standings at this point of the season or is it just each round individually?
“Yes, absolutely. You can say what you want but everybody’s paying attention. There is still a regular season championship to win. We want to claw our way to at least the No. 3 spot, and that’s a tall feat. There are a lot of moving pieces. I don’t know if, mathematically, that’s possible, but we’re going to try to win the next couple of races going into Indy. And I think we have a really good shot at doing that. I also think that we will have a really good shot at getting our speed record back.”
Talk about what that speed record means to you, to have the fastest race car in the sport.
“David Grubnic and John Collins (crew chiefs) are probably not as excited about that as they lead on. They’re more worried about elapsed times and winning races. I want it all. For me to be able to say that I am piloting the fastest car in the world is something that’s on my bucket list this year. I think that we started off strong and we’ve gotten off that path, but I’m very confident we’ll find our way back.”
What are your memories of your runner-up finish at Norwalk in 2022, where you made your third career final-round appearance?
“It was the perfect storm against us. We had the car. We had the driver. Everything was in our favor, and then the rain came. I remember when the rain came, I walked by Salinas’s pit and watched them freshen up their car. I think they even put a new bullet in it. So, when we got the opportunity to run the final, I felt like that was a move we should have made and we didn’t do it. We just fell short in every column so we’d love nothing more to to win that race this weekend. “
What did you do with the off weekend after three races in a row?
“I got all my T’s crossed and I’s dotted at Burnyzz. I worked my tail off at the office and then I did not leave the house for three days. I stayed in my little safe place with my family spent as much time as I possibly could squeeze out of it. And now I’m back in the saddle.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Sat., June 27, from 10:30-11 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools display in the midway.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 6 and 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 26, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 27, at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 28.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on Sunday, June 28, from 12 – 2 p.m. ET on FS1, leading into eliminations from 5:30 9 ET on FOX.
Race Results
| Norwalk | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2021 (TF) | 1st round | Loss to J. Ashley | 10th | 0-1 |
| 2022 (TF) | Runner-up | Beat S. Massey Beat A. Prock Beat B. Force Loss to M. Salinas | 4th | 3-2 |
| 2023 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat S. Massey Loss to B. Force | 6th | 4-3 |
| 2024 (TF) | DNQ | N/A | 17th | 4-3 |
| 2025 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat S. Massey Loss to J. Ashley | 9th | 5-4 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 5-4
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 1 | Beat Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum, Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta | 4-0 | 1 |
| Phoenix | 10 | Beat Justin Ashley, lost to Leah Pruett | 5-1 | 2 |
| Pomona1 | 2 | Beat Cameron Ferre, lost to Tony Stewart | 6-2 | 4 |
| Charlotte | 4 | Lost in 1st quad | 6-3 | 5 |
| Valdosta | 9 | Lost to Leah Pruett | 6-4 | 5 |
| Chicago | 4 | Beat Justin Ashley, Tony Stewart, lost to Shawn Langdon | 8-5 | 5 |
| Maryland | 7 | Lost to Clay Millican | 8-6 | 5 |
| Epping | 3 | Beat Rit Pustari; Lost to Billy Torrence | 9-7 | 4 |
| Bristol | 6 | Lost to Doug Kalitta | 9-8 | 6 |
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