BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2, 2026) – Josh Hart has made it a point in his professional and personal lives to make big dreams come true in big ways and a win for the Speedmaster Top Fuel team in the Sept. 4-7 Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park, long known as the Big Go, would be a big way to conclude the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season.
The win would also make a big statement heading into the upcoming six-race Countdown to the Championship.
Hart won back-to-back Top Alcohol Dragster titles at the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals in 2017 and 2018 while his best event finish in Top Fuel is a semifinal appearance in his rookie season of 2021. He sees this year as the opportunity to add his name to the list of Top Fuel winners and he’s been successful over the years in creating success from a strong belief in himself.
The Speedmaster team is seventh in the Top Fuel point standings, just 79 points out of fifth place. The Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals rewards 30 points for each round of eliminations instead of the standard 20 points so the gap to fifth is less than three rounds of competition instead of almost four.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings after 13 of 20 races are: 1. Doug Kalitta, 1,232; 2. Shawn Langdon, 1,165; 3. Leah Pruett, 974; 4. Antron Brown, 808; 5. Maddi Gordon, 784; 6. Tony Stewart, 753; 7. Josh Hart, 705; 8. Billy Torrence, 655; 9. Justin Ashley, 609; 10. Clay Millican, 540.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on competing in the U.S. Nationals, in general, and more specifically about doing so in NHRA’s 75th anniversary season?
“I think it’s probably a new plateau for anybody who wins the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals. It’s like a whole new level for their career. The fact that you’re going to be forever in the history books to win at Indy is cool, but to win Top Fuel at the Big Go on the 75th anniversary is just something one person will ever be able to accomplish.”
What’s the Speedmaster team’s mindset going into the last race of the regular season less than three rounds out of fifth place and earning 1.5x points?
“We definitely need some things to fall in our favor. It’s been a tough season but I’m confident we’re going in the right direction. With the testing that we did in Brainerd, we’re more confident on a warmer track, which should be the case at Indy. We found some things that we needed to adjust and we made those adjustments so I think it will pay dividends going into this race. Being that close to fifth in the point standings and knowing that it’s one last push before it’s in our grasp, we’re definitely going to do everything we can to grab hold of it.”
Is there a common thread that motivates you both professionally and personally that’s allowed you to achieve the success you’ve had in your life and in your business dealings, both on the racetrack?
“When you come from extremely humble beginnings, there are lot of people who try to manage your expectations. People that tell you a dream is just a dream or a goal is just a goal. They can make you feel like it’s not possible. For example, my eighth grade music teacher said, ‘You’ll never be a drummer.’ I prided myself on being the best damn drummer I could possibly be. I told somebody in 2017 that I was going to drive a Top Fuel dragster, maybe even for John Force one day. I remember him just laughing hysterically at me. I sent my first time slip in a Top Fuel car to him in the mail. It’s now come full circle and I do drive for John Force in one of the fastest cars in the world. Anything is possible. I use that motivation in everything I do. I remember when I was starting Burnyzz and everybody just kind of laughed at me, even the family members. They tried to politically manage my expectations and hide behind the notion that they don’t want you to let yourself down. I think that’s complete BS. I think that if you really want it, I am proof that you truly can go out and get anything. Everything in your life is a product of someone else’s imagination. Why can’t it be yours?”
Weekend Appearances
Hart will be signing autographs Sat., Sept. 5, from 10-10:30 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:15 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, two rounds at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 5 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 12 and 2:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 7.
The first round of the Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, with the semifinals at 2:15 p.m. and the final round at 3:40 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3 and 10:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and eliminations at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.
Race Results
| Indianapolis | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2021 (TF) | Semi-finals | Beat Buddy Hull, Leah Pruett; lost to Brittany Force | 4th | 2-1 |
| 2022 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat Doug Foley; lost to Brittany Force | 8th | 3-2 |
| 2023 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to Shawn Langdon | 8th | 3-3 |
| 2024 (TF) | 2nd round | Beat Tripp Tatum; lost to Clay Millican | 12th | 4-4 |
| 2025 (TF) | 1st round | Lost to Tripp Tatum | 8th | 4-5 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 4-5
***2017 and 2018 U.S. Nationals Top Alcohol Dragster Champion
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 |
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