Hart Builds Momentum with Another Quarterfinal Win

Josh Hart continued his steady performance in the NHRA Top Fuel series by reaching the quarterfinals for the fourth straight national event. This streak was kept alive at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals, where Hart’s R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster qualified in the eighth spot.

Over two days of qualifying, Hart and his team made strong runs, collecting bonus points and showing improved pace. On Friday, their dragster was one of only a few entries able to deliver back-to-back runs in the 3.80-second range, providing momentum as the team adapted to rolling weather conditions at Route 66 Raceway.

The changing forecast played a part all weekend. Saturday saw cooler air and better track grip, which the team used to their advantage by turning in their best qualifying effort—3.735 seconds at 329.02 mph.

However, in the last qualifying session, they went after a bold setup, which led to tire smoke but gave the crew more data to prepare for Sunday’s elimination rounds. Hart entered race day determined to build on Saturday’s performance.

In the opening elimination round, Hart faced off against Clay Millican in a close battle between the eighth and ninth qualifiers. Millican left the line first, but Hart responded with his quickest run of the event, a 3.733-second pass to Millican’s 3.746.

Hart moved ahead early and stayed in front to take the round win, giving his team a strong start to the day. Hart later said, “That was a big win for this R+L Carriers team—Clay is a tough competitor and that was a great race,” echoing confidence in how each round helps them edge closer to victory.

In the quarterfinals, Hart lined up against Doug Kalitta, who was the event’s top qualifier. Hart was sharp at the tree again, posting a .058-second reaction, faster than Kalitta’s .078.

But the tricky track conditions caught out Hart’s car, which smoked the tires and lost traction while Kalitta advanced with a 3.723-second run. Hart later explained how teams battled shifting conditions run after run and saw value in the additional data they collected, especially as summer approaches and more events unfold under similar weather.

Despite missing out on a semifinal appearance, Hart and the R+L Carriers team showed progress compared to earlier rounds in the season. They maintained a consistent presence in the quarterfinals and built more confidence as the schedule heads toward busy summer weekends.

The team will return to action at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, taking place June 6-8. This recent performance at Route 66 Raceway adds to Hart’s list of consistent results and reinforces his status as a strong contender in Top Fuel racing.

As the race calendar heads into hotter conditions with more events clustered in quick succession, Hart and his team will rely on the data and momentum from recent races as they continue their pursuit of a breakthrough finish.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.