Josh Hart, a two-time U.S. Nationals winner in Top Alcohol Dragster, was racing the 70th Toyota NHRA U.S Nationals looking to add a third “Big Go” Wally to his collection. Through three days of qualifying Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team struggled to make consistent power. Their third qualifying run of the event was their best and set the team up in the No. 12 spot heading into race day today. Their 3.772 second, 326.48 mph run on Saturday evening earned the team two qualifying bonus points as the third quickest run of the session.
On the final day of qualifying Hart’s final two qualifying runs did not improve and his team worked late into the evening in preparation for today’s first round versus Tripp Tatum. Tatum, who was racing in his third race of the season, and looking for his second Top Fuel national event win.
“We knew Tripp would be a tough first round opponent, so we dug in to improve our performance,” said Hart, a two-time Top Fuel national event winner. “This was a tough field to even qualify for.”
In the opening round Hart got the jump off the starting line and drove to the round win with a 4.018 second run at 249.49 mph. Hart’s started smoking the tires just before the finish line, but he was well ahead of Tatum who also drove into tire smoke and crossed the finish line at 5.643 seconds, 116.35 mph. Hart advanced to the quarterfinals to face veteran driver Clay Millican.
The quarterfinals ended with the Hart versus Millican race and the R+L Carriers dragster was first off the starting line thanks to Hart’s stellar reaction time. Hart was accelerating beside Millican when his Goodyear tires began overpowering the track. Millican, who went on to win the U.S. Nationals, was on a smooth pass and drove away from Hart and into the semifinals.
“This was a disappointing weekend,” said Hart. “We really only made one representative run and we are a better team than that. We are going to go back to the shop and figure some things out. I am not a fan of participation trophies, but we will go into the playoffs looking to run better. We have great fans and great sponsors. I want to thank my wife, Brittanie, for supporting me and putting up with the mood swings.”
Hart earned a spot in the 2024 NHRA Countdown, the six-race playoffs, through his consistent participation in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season. He will enter the playoffs as the No. 11 just over 100 points out of the championship point lead. The first race of the Countdown will be contested at Maple Grove Raceway, September 13-15, 2024, the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals.
This story was originally published on September 3, 2024. 
