OCALA, FL (September 19, 2024) —- The 2024 NHRA Countdown to the Championship has begun and for Josh Hart and the TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel team they have five races, starting this weekend at zMax Dragway, to make a move. Hart, a successful businessman from Florida, is pursuing his first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel world championship. Last weekend the No. 9 qualifier battled an issue with his brakes on his 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster that contributed to his early exit at Maple Grove Raceway.
“We were chasing a brake issues all weekend in Reading and it bit us in the first round,” said Hart, a two-time Top Fuel national event winner. “My R+L Carriers and TechNet team will be ready to go this weekend. The good news is we can get back on track and start moving up in the points with some round wins in Charlotte.”
Hart won the Carolina Nationals in 2021 from the No. 7 qualifier position. He has had sustained success at the track located north of Charlotte and beside Charlotte Motor Speedway. He has raced to the final quad twice at the Charlotte Four-Wide national event and reached the quarterfinals two years ago at the Carolina Nationals.
“I really enjoy racing at zMax Dragway and Bruton Smith and his family built us an amazing facility,” said Hart. “We get a ton of drag racing and NASCAR fans at the race. Having this race in the Countdown really makes for an exciting weekend. I am glad we’ll get a couple qualifying runs on Friday and then get to work on a race day tune up on Saturday.”
The all-concrete track at zMax Dragway affords all the teams the opportunity to get aggressive with their tune-ups. The combination of crew chief Ron Douglas and John Stewart will have the chance to once again push the TechNet Brakes for Breasts and R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster to the limit. The three races in a row to start the Countdown is a grind for all the teams but Hart is confident his crew is up to the task.
“We have been working all season to put ourselves in this position,” said Hart. “The goal when you are out here is to win and we haven’t reached that goal yet. That is where my focus is. I want to win and give our fans something to cheer for.”
While the wins are on the horizon one positive Hart continues to hang his competitive hat on us his reaction times improvement over the past two seasons. The fourth-year pro has established himself as one of the best drivers off the starting line. The formula needed to turn on win lights in Top Fuel has become a combination of superior reaction times and quick smooth passes. The R+L Carriers team has shown flashes of performance improvement to match Hart’s solid reaction times behind the wheel.
“I have been dedicating myself to improving my reaction times and the team is seeing those results,” said Hart. “As a driver and team owner you want make sure everyone on the team knows you are giving it your all and you are focused on the task at hand. There are a ton of distractions at the track, and I take a lot of pride in not letting that affect my driving. I know how hard my guys are working.”
After the first race of the Countdown Hart is still sitting in eleventh place in the Mission Top Fuel point standings. He is only 63 points out of seventh place which is a completely attainable position to jump up to with one solid race. Hart understands that consistency and solid performances in the final five races could lead to his best professional finish in the point standings.
“We don’t want to barely make the Top Ten and go to the banquet,” said Hart. “I want to be in the championship conversation over the final races of the season. The Countdown is a tough equalizer, but we have to take advantage of this opportunity. I want to compete against the best of the best and we are doing that right now. This weekend in Charlotte will be big for this R+L Carriers team.”
Hart and the TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster will be on track at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday followed by two qualifying sessions on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The quickest 16 Top Fuel dragsters will square off in the first round of eliminations Sunday at 12:00 p.m. with the race being televised on FS1 nationally.
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