BROWNSBURG, Ind. (June 3, 2026) – Josh Hart finds motivation in many facets of his life and he knows the tremendous atmosphere and great fans at New England Dragway will only add to that motivation when he and the Speedmaster Top Fuel Dragster team compete there June 5-7 in the NHRA New England Nationals.
Hart made his John Force Racing debut in Cinderella-like fashion by earning the third Top Fuel event win of his career at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Ocala, Fla., where he, his wife Brittanie, and their two children call home.
The season hasn’t been as successful since then but Hart maintains his complete confidence in the program because of the support and camaraderie of his John Force Racing teammates and he understands the NHRA season “is a marathon, not a sprint.”
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after seven of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 722; 2. Doug Kalitta, 646; 3. Leah Pruett, 506; 4. Tony Stewart, 424; 5. Josh Hart, 409; 6. Maddi Gordon, 395; 7. Justin Ashley, 364; 8. Billy Torrence, 356; 9. Antron Brown, 345; 10. Clay Millican, 294.
Quotes
Despite the team’s recent struggles, you’re still in fifth place in the point standings and less than one round behind Tony Stewart in fourth. Do you use that as motivation or are you focused solely on what you and crew chiefs David Grubnic John Collins are doing?
“We got a good jump start at the beginning of the season. We’ve battled some gremlins the last couple of races, to say the least. As a driver, all I can do is focus on my reaction time, which has been good. I can absolutely say that I have not lost confidence in this team whatsoever. We will rise together and we fall together. It’s been a great camaraderie. The John Force Racing group has been nothing but supportive and this is a marathon, not a sprint. We all know what we need to do going into Epping.”
“I still think that I am sitting in the fastest car in the world. So that’s a lot of motivation there. The fans at Epping are truly second to none. They always pack the house and the energy is always strong. That’s definitely my motivation to put on a good show, do my job and drive the fastest car in the world.”
You’re an intensely focused and goal-oriented person at the race track but you also seem to have a very strong counterbalance with your family and your family’s business. What is it that keeps your very busy life in balance?
“I would say that it’s very compartmentalized. I try really hard not to cross over. When I’m at the racetrack, I focus on racing. When I’m at Burnyzz, I focus on Burnyzz. And when I’m at home, I focus as best I can to be the best father and best husband I can be. Keeping them siloed, as I like to say, I would like to think keeps me above the above the curve. It keeps me dedicated to that that department when I’m there.”
Where did your love of drumming come from?
“When I was in middle school, I wanted to be a drummer in the band and I’ll never forget it. It’s much like everything else in my life. I need somebody to provide the fuel for the fire. I had a band instructor tell me that I was never going to be coordinated enough to be able to play the drums. It was the same thing when somebody told me I’d never drive a Top Fuel car, especially for John Force. Um, I sent that guy my time slip when I drove a Top Fuel car. Drumming in a rock band took me a lot of places. We did a lot of local gigs. I had a lot of fun. I remember when I did the school talent contest, the band instructor actually ordered everybody not to give me a standing ovation because I’d proved him wrong. I love playing the drums and It’s a good outlet for me.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will participate in an autograph session at the Cornwell Tools display in the NHRA Midway on Sat., June 6, from 10-10:30 a.m. ET.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. ET on Fri., June 5, with the final two rounds Sat., June 6, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m. ET.
TV Schedule
Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., June 5, from 8 – 9:30 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., June 6, from 10 – 11 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, June 7, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
Race Results
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Round Record: 1-4
2026 Results
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Hart made his John Force Racing debut in Cinderella-like fashion by earning the third Top Fuel event win of his career at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals in Ocala, Fla., where he, his wife Brittanie, and their two children call home.
The season hasn’t been as successful since then but Hart maintains his complete confidence in the program because of the support and camaraderie of his John Force Racing teammates and he understands the NHRA season “is a marathon, not a sprint.”
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after seven of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 722; 2. Doug Kalitta, 646; 3. Leah Pruett, 506; 4. Tony Stewart, 424; 5. Josh Hart, 409; 6. Maddi Gordon, 395; 7. Justin Ashley, 364; 8. Billy Torrence, 356; 9. Antron Brown, 345; 10. Clay Millican, 294.
Quotes
Despite the team’s recent struggles, you’re still in fifth place in the point standings and less than one round behind Tony Stewart in fourth. Do you use that as motivation or are you focused solely on what you and crew chiefs David Grubnic John Collins are doing?
“We got a good jump start at the beginning of the season. We’ve battled some gremlins the last couple of races, to say the least. As a driver, all I can do is focus on my reaction time, which has been good. I can absolutely say that I have not lost confidence in this team whatsoever. We will rise together and we fall together. It’s been a great camaraderie. The John Force Racing group has been nothing but supportive and this is a marathon, not a sprint. We all know what we need to do going into Epping.”
“I still think that I am sitting in the fastest car in the world. So that’s a lot of motivation there. The fans at Epping are truly second to none. They always pack the house and the energy is always strong. That’s definitely my motivation to put on a good show, do my job and drive the fastest car in the world.”
You’re an intensely focused and goal-oriented person at the race track but you also seem to have a very strong counterbalance with your family and your family’s business. What is it that keeps your very busy life in balance?
“I would say that it’s very compartmentalized. I try really hard not to cross over. When I’m at the racetrack, I focus on racing. When I’m at Burnyzz, I focus on Burnyzz. And when I’m at home, I focus as best I can to be the best father and best husband I can be. Keeping them siloed, as I like to say, I would like to think keeps me above the above the curve. It keeps me dedicated to that that department when I’m there.”
Where did your love of drumming come from?
“When I was in middle school, I wanted to be a drummer in the band and I’ll never forget it. It’s much like everything else in my life. I need somebody to provide the fuel for the fire. I had a band instructor tell me that I was never going to be coordinated enough to be able to play the drums. It was the same thing when somebody told me I’d never drive a Top Fuel car, especially for John Force. Um, I sent that guy my time slip when I drove a Top Fuel car. Drumming in a rock band took me a lot of places. We did a lot of local gigs. I had a lot of fun. I remember when I did the school talent contest, the band instructor actually ordered everybody not to give me a standing ovation because I’d proved him wrong. I love playing the drums and It’s a good outlet for me.”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will participate in an autograph session at the Cornwell Tools display in the NHRA Midway on Sat., June 6, from 10-10:30 a.m. ET.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. ET on Fri., June 5, with the final two rounds Sat., June 6, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ET. Final eliminations are scheduled for Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m. ET.
TV Schedule
Television coverage on FS1 includes a qualifying show Fri., June 5, from 8 – 9:30 p.m. ET, a second qualifying show Sat., June 6, from 10 – 11 p.m. ET, and the eliminations broadcast Sunday, June 7, from 3 – 6 p.m. ET on FOX.
Race Results
| Epping | Race Result | Round Wins | Round Loss | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2021 (TF) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 (TF) | 1st round | Loss to S. Langdon | 5th | 0-1 | |
| 2023 (TF) | 1st round | Loss to B. Force | 4th | 0-2 | |
| 2024 (TF) | 2nd round | Def. J. Ashley | Loss to T. Schumacher | 11th | 1-3 |
| 2025 (TF) | 1st round | Loss to J. Ashley | 10th | 1-4 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Round Record: 1-4
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 |
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