BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 30, 2026) – Josh Hart is committed to the success of John Force Racing’s Speedmaster Top Fuel program and views the Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway as the next opportunity to get back to the winning form that propelled the team to victory in the first race of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Hart has earned success at World Wide Technology Raceway, having been the runner-up there in 2022 and grabbing a semifinal finish in 2021.
The Speedmaster team is currently tied for seventh place in the 2026 Top Fuel point standings with Maddi Gordon. They’re just three points back to sixth place, 20 points to fifth and 40 points to fourth place with four events remaining.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 16 of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 2,335; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,310; 3. Tony Stewart, 2,180; 4. Leah Pruett, 2,168; 5. Antron Brown, 2,148; 6. Billy Torrence, 2,131; 7. (tie) Josh Hart, 2,128; Maddi Gordon, 2,128; 9. Will Smith, 2,118; 10. Clay Millican, 2,088.
Quotes
How are you holding up with this second three-week run late in the season?
“You have to keep a firm grasp on everything. You have to stay regimented. You have to stay energized and recharge the batteries. When you sign up for the NHRA tour, you know what you’re getting into from the jump. I love drag racing and I love running the Top Fuel car so I conduct myself the same way as I always do. I’m blessed to be able to do it right now.”
How do you stay motivated this late in the season while perhaps not having the performance you’d envisioned?
“I know there’s a hundred thousand other people that would kill to have my seat. I prayed for this opportunity and here I am. I’ve wanted to work with David Grubnic my entire Top Fuel career. I watched him set records and win races and win championships. So here we are and if this is where we need to start, then I’m prepared to make the commitment to him and to JFR to see it through. I’m a very loyal person. Some say loyal to a fault, but once I am committed to something, I will do it until it doesn’t make sense anymore. My patience and tolerance for that is probably more than most people, because of all the things that I’ve experienced in business and in life. I would say that the reinforcement comes from my family, especially my wife. She supports me, and even when she thinks I’m crazy, she will continue to support me.”
What are your plans for the off-weekend next week?
We’re self-employed so we don’t take time off. That’s the biggest illusion when you’re self-employed, that you get to make all the changes and all the rules yourself. It’s quite the opposite. You work for the machine that you created and the people that are your clients. We work nonstop and next weekend is no different. My wife always puts on these spectacular shows on the Burnyzz Block, and next Saturday is the Trunk or Treat Show. It typically pulls more people, and definitely more children, than the fan fest in March. So, it would not be out of the ordinary to see seven-to-ten-thousand people on the Burnyzz Block. We do a big open house, the kids get all dressed up, some of the clients get all dressed up. It’s a Halloween theme where everybody can come and get candy and just enjoy a great evening at the Burnyzz Block.”
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 2, and the final two rounds of qualifying at 12 and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 3. Final eliminations are scheduled for 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 4.
TV Schedule
Television coverage begins Friday, Oct. 2, with a first-day qualifying show from 6:30 – 8 p.m. ET on FS1. A second-day qualifying show is scheduled to air on Sun., Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on FS1. Elimination rounds will air Sun., Oct. 4, on FOX from 2 – 4 p.m. ET and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ET.
Race Results
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 5-5
2026 Results
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Hart has earned success at World Wide Technology Raceway, having been the runner-up there in 2022 and grabbing a semifinal finish in 2021.
The Speedmaster team is currently tied for seventh place in the 2026 Top Fuel point standings with Maddi Gordon. They’re just three points back to sixth place, 20 points to fifth and 40 points to fourth place with four events remaining.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 16 of 20 races are: 1. Shawn Langdon, 2,335; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,310; 3. Tony Stewart, 2,180; 4. Leah Pruett, 2,168; 5. Antron Brown, 2,148; 6. Billy Torrence, 2,131; 7. (tie) Josh Hart, 2,128; Maddi Gordon, 2,128; 9. Will Smith, 2,118; 10. Clay Millican, 2,088.
Quotes
How are you holding up with this second three-week run late in the season?
“You have to keep a firm grasp on everything. You have to stay regimented. You have to stay energized and recharge the batteries. When you sign up for the NHRA tour, you know what you’re getting into from the jump. I love drag racing and I love running the Top Fuel car so I conduct myself the same way as I always do. I’m blessed to be able to do it right now.”
How do you stay motivated this late in the season while perhaps not having the performance you’d envisioned?
“I know there’s a hundred thousand other people that would kill to have my seat. I prayed for this opportunity and here I am. I’ve wanted to work with David Grubnic my entire Top Fuel career. I watched him set records and win races and win championships. So here we are and if this is where we need to start, then I’m prepared to make the commitment to him and to JFR to see it through. I’m a very loyal person. Some say loyal to a fault, but once I am committed to something, I will do it until it doesn’t make sense anymore. My patience and tolerance for that is probably more than most people, because of all the things that I’ve experienced in business and in life. I would say that the reinforcement comes from my family, especially my wife. She supports me, and even when she thinks I’m crazy, she will continue to support me.”
What are your plans for the off-weekend next week?
We’re self-employed so we don’t take time off. That’s the biggest illusion when you’re self-employed, that you get to make all the changes and all the rules yourself. It’s quite the opposite. You work for the machine that you created and the people that are your clients. We work nonstop and next weekend is no different. My wife always puts on these spectacular shows on the Burnyzz Block, and next Saturday is the Trunk or Treat Show. It typically pulls more people, and definitely more children, than the fan fest in March. So, it would not be out of the ordinary to see seven-to-ten-thousand people on the Burnyzz Block. We do a big open house, the kids get all dressed up, some of the clients get all dressed up. It’s a Halloween theme where everybody can come and get candy and just enjoy a great evening at the Burnyzz Block.”
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 2, and the final two rounds of qualifying at 12 and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 3. Final eliminations are scheduled for 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 4.
TV Schedule
Television coverage begins Friday, Oct. 2, with a first-day qualifying show from 6:30 – 8 p.m. ET on FS1. A second-day qualifying show is scheduled to air on Sun., Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on FS1. Elimination rounds will air Sun., Oct. 4, on FOX from 2 – 4 p.m. ET and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ET.
Race Results
| St. Louis | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2021 | Semi-finals | Beat Justin Ashley, Brittany Force; lost to Steve Torrence | 10th | 2-1 |
| 2022 | Runner-up | Beat Scott Palmer, Mike Salinas, Shawn Langdon; lost to Steve Torrence | 2nd | 5-2 |
| 2023 | 1st round | Lost to Steve Torrence | 12th | 5-3 |
| 2024 | 1st round | Lost to Brittany Force | 14th | 5-4 |
| 2025 | 1st round | Lost to Kyle Wurtzel | 11th | 5-5 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 5-5
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 |
| Bristol | 6 | Lost to Doug Kalitta | 9-8 | 6 |
| Norwalk | 2 | Beat Scott Farley; lost to Clay Millican | 10-9 | 7 |
| Sonoma | 8 | Lost to Jasmine Salinas | 10-10 | 7 |
| Seattle | 1 | Bye, beat Tony Stewart; lost to Leah Pruett | 12-11 | 7 |
| Brainerd | 10 | Lost to Tony Stewart | 12-12 | 7 |
| Indianapolis | 12 | Lost to Leah Pruett | 12-13 | 7 |
| Martin | 2 | Beat Shawn Reed; Lost to Spencer Massey | 13-14 | 6 |
| Rockingham | 5 | Lost to Will Smith | 13-15 | 7 |
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