BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 10, 2026) – Josh Hart and the Speedmaster Top Fuel team are looking forward to the June 12-14 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at the freshly resurfaced Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway as a fresh restart to a season that began perfectly but hasn’t reached the team’s high standards since.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season couldn’t have played out any better for Hart in his John Force Racing Top Fuel debut at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. The Ocala, Fla., resident made his first 340-mph run in Q1, earned his first No. 1 qualifying spot, and took home the first Top Fuel Diamond Wally trophy in the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
The Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led team has been tirelessly working to get back to the winner’s circle since then. The team qualified fourth and made the semifinals at the Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK last month and qualified third last week at the New England Nationals before bowing out in the second round.
Despite last Sunday’s early exit, Hart and the Speedmaster team moved up on spot, to fourth, in the 2026 Top Fuel point standings.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after eight of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 828; 2. Doug Kalitta, 728; 3. Leah Pruett, 609; 4. Josh Hart, 466; 5. Tony Stewart, 458; 6. Maddi Gordon, 447; 7. Billy Torrence, 430; 8. Antron Brown, 397; 9. Justin Ashley, 388; 10. Clay Millican, 346.
Quotes
With Bristol Dragway newly resurfaced, what are your memories of the old surface and what have you heard about the new one?
“There was a bump over the tunnel that cost everyone a ton of money. Frequently, if the dragsters got air during the run, it would rev up and pop the blower. I’m very happy Bristol Dragway made the investment so we don’t have to.”
How are you using Epping’s result as a positive?
“I was not happy when I left New England Dragway last week because it was the first time I’d been beaten on a holeshot since Gainesville 2023. It’s definitely added fuel for the fire going into this week’s racing in Bristol and I will do better.”
What is a significant memory you have from Bristol?
“I set one of my past life career-best elapsed times in my very first race at Bristol (3.696 seconds, Oct. 15, 2021) and I look forward to breaking that this weekend.”
How are you handling the three-race schedule now that we’re into Week 3?
“I really enjoy the seat time in the Speedmaster dragster and I am blessed to be working with a team headed up by David Grubnic and John Collins. I look forward to sharpening my skills every chance I get so I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel at Bristol.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Sat., June 13, from 5-6 p.m. in the Bristol Dragway pavilion near the tunnel.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Race Results
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 2-5
2026 Results
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The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season couldn’t have played out any better for Hart in his John Force Racing Top Fuel debut at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. The Ocala, Fla., resident made his first 340-mph run in Q1, earned his first No. 1 qualifying spot, and took home the first Top Fuel Diamond Wally trophy in the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
The Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led team has been tirelessly working to get back to the winner’s circle since then. The team qualified fourth and made the semifinals at the Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK last month and qualified third last week at the New England Nationals before bowing out in the second round.
Despite last Sunday’s early exit, Hart and the Speedmaster team moved up on spot, to fourth, in the 2026 Top Fuel point standings.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after eight of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 828; 2. Doug Kalitta, 728; 3. Leah Pruett, 609; 4. Josh Hart, 466; 5. Tony Stewart, 458; 6. Maddi Gordon, 447; 7. Billy Torrence, 430; 8. Antron Brown, 397; 9. Justin Ashley, 388; 10. Clay Millican, 346.
Quotes
With Bristol Dragway newly resurfaced, what are your memories of the old surface and what have you heard about the new one?
“There was a bump over the tunnel that cost everyone a ton of money. Frequently, if the dragsters got air during the run, it would rev up and pop the blower. I’m very happy Bristol Dragway made the investment so we don’t have to.”
How are you using Epping’s result as a positive?
“I was not happy when I left New England Dragway last week because it was the first time I’d been beaten on a holeshot since Gainesville 2023. It’s definitely added fuel for the fire going into this week’s racing in Bristol and I will do better.”
What is a significant memory you have from Bristol?
“I set one of my past life career-best elapsed times in my very first race at Bristol (3.696 seconds, Oct. 15, 2021) and I look forward to breaking that this weekend.”
How are you handling the three-race schedule now that we’re into Week 3?
“I really enjoy the seat time in the Speedmaster dragster and I am blessed to be working with a team headed up by David Grubnic and John Collins. I look forward to sharpening my skills every chance I get so I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel at Bristol.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Sat., June 13, from 5-6 p.m. in the Bristol Dragway pavilion near the tunnel.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 12, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 14.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Race Results
| Josh Hart | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2021 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to C. Millican | 7th | 0-1 |
| 2022 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to J. Ashley | 3rd | 0-2 |
| 2023 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat M. Salinas; Lost to J. Ashley | 12th | 1-3 |
| 2024 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to B. Torrence | 10th | 1-4 |
| 2025 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat D. Kalitta; Lost to S. Langdon | 6th | 2-5 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 2-5
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 |
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