BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 15, 2026) – Josh Hart’s home base for years has been sunny Florida but it’s the positive California vibes of Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway’s NHRA Drag Racing fans he’s looking forward to enjoying when he pulls his John Force Racing Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster to the starting line during the July 17-19 NHRA Sonoma Nationals.
Hart and the David Grubnic/John Collins-led Speedmaster team are currently seventh in the point standings after the season’s first 10 races but know their performance over the next four regular season races and six playoff races is all that matter at this point.
The team is just 33 points behind Tony Stewart in sixth, 49 to Antron Brown in fifth place and 55 to Maddi Gordon in fourth.
Friday night’s qualifying session will have added incentive with the Deecell Power Systems “After Dark Low Qualifier” bonus. The top qualifier of that session In Top Fuel and Funny Car will each earn $4,000. Last year, Brittany Force dazzled the huge crowd with a record speed run at the time, going 3.645-seconds at 343.16 mph.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 10 of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 1,010; 2. Doug Kalitta, 860; 3. Leah Pruett, 731; 4. Maddi Gordon, 614; 5. Antron Brown, 608; 6. Tony Stewart, 592; 7. Josh Hart, 559; 8. Billy Torrence, 498; 9. Justin Ashley, 450; 10. Clay Millican, 439.
Quotes
Do you have any special memories of competing at Sonoma Raceway?
“There are some racetracks that just have more positive fan energy than others and Sonoma, for me, is one of them. They have always been supportive of me. At one time, it was questionable whether we were going to continue racing there and, hearing the stories from the fans about what it would do if they if they stopped that event was almost heartbreaking. So, the fact that it’s going strong, I can only imagine that the energy out there is going to be epic.”
Were you and the family able to do anything special with the extra weekend off?
“I feel like I’m very good at siloing each part of my life, like I can completely turn it on and completely turn it off. So, when I’m at the racetrack, I focus on the racetrack. When I’m in at Burnyzz Speed Shop, I focus on Burnyzz Speed Shop. But, over the last weekend, especially the 4th of July, I spent a lot of good quality time with my family. So, when home, I focus on being No. 1 dad and No. 1 husband.”
With just four races remaining in the regular season and the regular season championship on the line, what is your team’s approach going into those races?
“I think that it’s awesome what NHRA has done by promoting the regular season championship and, at this point, that’s a goal for maybe next year. With us starting Sonoma with a brand new car, I’m going to take it one round at a time. I continue to just pinch myself that I drive for John Force Racing, I work with David Grubnic and John Collins (crew chiefs) and have an awesome sponsor in Speedmaster and all of our other sponsors. I’m extremely blessed. I don’t take it for granted and excited to get out there and represent properly.”
What are your thoughts on the Winternationals back as the season-opener in 2027?
“The season has always started with the Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) during my Top Fuel career but I think it’s cool that NHRA is following their own traditions in starting with the Winternationals again. We’ll still continue with the Burnyzz Fan Fest to kick off the Gatornationals, which is always huge.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will have two autograph appearances on Fri., July 17: from 3:45-4:15 p.m. for kids only under the main grandstand; and from 6:30-6:45 p.m. at the Launch Pad near the starting line. He’ll also be signing autographs at the Bandero Cafe display on the midway on Sat., July 18, from 10-10:30 a.m.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:55 and 6:55 p.m. PT on Fri., July 17, and the final two rounds on Sat., July 18, at 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sun., July 19.
TV Schedule
Television coverage of the event includes qualifying and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Sat., July 18, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Elimination coverage begins Sun., July 19, at 10 p.m. ET on FS1.
Race Results
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 4-4
2026 Results
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Hart and the David Grubnic/John Collins-led Speedmaster team are currently seventh in the point standings after the season’s first 10 races but know their performance over the next four regular season races and six playoff races is all that matter at this point.
The team is just 33 points behind Tony Stewart in sixth, 49 to Antron Brown in fifth place and 55 to Maddi Gordon in fourth.
Friday night’s qualifying session will have added incentive with the Deecell Power Systems “After Dark Low Qualifier” bonus. The top qualifier of that session In Top Fuel and Funny Car will each earn $4,000. Last year, Brittany Force dazzled the huge crowd with a record speed run at the time, going 3.645-seconds at 343.16 mph.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 10 of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 1,010; 2. Doug Kalitta, 860; 3. Leah Pruett, 731; 4. Maddi Gordon, 614; 5. Antron Brown, 608; 6. Tony Stewart, 592; 7. Josh Hart, 559; 8. Billy Torrence, 498; 9. Justin Ashley, 450; 10. Clay Millican, 439.
Quotes
Do you have any special memories of competing at Sonoma Raceway?
“There are some racetracks that just have more positive fan energy than others and Sonoma, for me, is one of them. They have always been supportive of me. At one time, it was questionable whether we were going to continue racing there and, hearing the stories from the fans about what it would do if they if they stopped that event was almost heartbreaking. So, the fact that it’s going strong, I can only imagine that the energy out there is going to be epic.”
Were you and the family able to do anything special with the extra weekend off?
“I feel like I’m very good at siloing each part of my life, like I can completely turn it on and completely turn it off. So, when I’m at the racetrack, I focus on the racetrack. When I’m in at Burnyzz Speed Shop, I focus on Burnyzz Speed Shop. But, over the last weekend, especially the 4th of July, I spent a lot of good quality time with my family. So, when home, I focus on being No. 1 dad and No. 1 husband.”
With just four races remaining in the regular season and the regular season championship on the line, what is your team’s approach going into those races?
“I think that it’s awesome what NHRA has done by promoting the regular season championship and, at this point, that’s a goal for maybe next year. With us starting Sonoma with a brand new car, I’m going to take it one round at a time. I continue to just pinch myself that I drive for John Force Racing, I work with David Grubnic and John Collins (crew chiefs) and have an awesome sponsor in Speedmaster and all of our other sponsors. I’m extremely blessed. I don’t take it for granted and excited to get out there and represent properly.”
What are your thoughts on the Winternationals back as the season-opener in 2027?
“The season has always started with the Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) during my Top Fuel career but I think it’s cool that NHRA is following their own traditions in starting with the Winternationals again. We’ll still continue with the Burnyzz Fan Fest to kick off the Gatornationals, which is always huge.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will have two autograph appearances on Fri., July 17: from 3:45-4:15 p.m. for kids only under the main grandstand; and from 6:30-6:45 p.m. at the Launch Pad near the starting line. He’ll also be signing autographs at the Bandero Cafe display on the midway on Sat., July 18, from 10-10:30 a.m.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:55 and 6:55 p.m. PT on Fri., July 17, and the final two rounds on Sat., July 18, at 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sun., July 19.
TV Schedule
Television coverage of the event includes qualifying and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Sat., July 18, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Elimination coverage begins Sun., July 19, at 10 p.m. ET on FS1.
Race Results
| Sonoma | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2021 (TF) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat C. Millican; lost to D. Kalitta | 7th | 1-1 |
| 2023 (TF) | Semi finals | Beat T. Schumacher, S. Langdon; lost to J. Ashley | 4th | 3-2 |
| 2024 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to B. Force | 12th | 3-3 |
| 2025 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat T. Stewart; lost to D. Kalitta | 6th | 4-4 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 4-4
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 |
| Norwalk | 2 | Beat Scott Farley; lost to Clay Millican | 10-9 | 7 |
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