Thu, 19 Mar 2026, 07:57 AM John Force Racing Preview |
Courtesy of John Force Racing Photography John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase |
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Hart Bringing Winning Heat to Arizona Desert
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. - It's been five long years since Josh Hart headed to the second race of the NHRA season as the Top Fuel point leader which is why the Florida resident and driver of John Force Racing's Burnyzz Speed Shop / Speedmaster Top Fuel team has savored the time since winning the season-opening Gatornationals in his JFR debut and the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz.
Hart and his Dave Grubnic / John Collins-led team made the powerful statement at Gainesville that they have every intention of contending for this year's championship by grabbing the No. 1 Qualifier spot with the low E.T. (3.658 seconds) and top speed (340.30 mph) of the meet and then defeating defending champion Doug Kalitta in the final round. Kalitta beat Hart off the line by less than one-hundredth of a second but Hart took the victory with a run of 3.733 seconds at 337.83 mph to Kalitta's 3.877 at 319.60.
This year's Gatornationals win bookended Hart's NHRA Top Fuel career debut in 2021 when, as the No. 8 qualifier, he defeated Clay Millican, Steve Torrence and Justin Ashley on his way to cutting a 0.026 light and running 3.826 seconds at 323.66 mph to Shawn Langdon's 4.244 at 219.08.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel point standings are: Josh Hart, 122; Doug Kalitta, 96; Antron Brown, 76; Maddi Gordon, 74; Leah Pruett, 57; Tony Stewart, 54; Tripp Tatum III, 53; Tony Schumacher, 48; Shawn Langdon, 44; Shawn Reed, 32.
Quotes
What's the feeling heading into Phoenix with the points lead and a win already under your belt?
"The Burnyzz Speed Shop/Speedmaster team checked a lot of boxes at Gainesville and we're going to take this momentum into Phoenix. We're not going to take our foot off the gas; actually, quite the opposite. We've set the expectation, we know where we need to improve and now it's just to make sure that I can live up to everybody else's expectations."
From a post-race competition meeting standpoint, was it different for you to be simply the driver providing input as opposed to how you ran it with your own team?
"David Grubnic (crew chief) is very much concerned about my feedback, making sure I'm comfortable, making sure that the car is doing what I think it should do. And he's also interested in all of my feedback as to how it performed throughout the run. So, I feel like I'm really a part of the team because he takes my input and uses it to some extent to improve the next pass."
What is the pressure you put yourself under now?
"Now it's just to make sure that I can live up to everybody else's expectations. I want to earn the trust and respect of the John Force Racing fans. I want to earn the respect of my peers - be a good driver, stage properly - and I obviously want to earn the trust and respect of our team. We've made a couple of really good steps in that direction but I know that's just the beginning."
Between races, do you detach from racing or do you stay in the zone all the way through?
Oh yeah, always, always thinking about it, for sure. But I do have the opportunity now to focus on what I'm doing at home, which should just make my life and lifestyle way more efficient and productive.
"As for the weather forecast for Phoenix, I'm from Florida. I'm used to the heat so we'll be just fine from the driver's point of view."
Stats
Phoenix Race Result Qualified Event Round Record 2021 (TF) NHRA Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2022 (TF) Semi-finals 8th 2-1 2023 (TF) 1st round 12th 2-2 2024 (TF) 1st round 12th 2-3 2025 (TF) 1st round 11th 2-4 Starts: 4
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 2-4
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.
DeJoria Focused on First JFR Win at Site of First Career Win
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DeJoria and her Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg team took out Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde and JR Todd enroute to the runner-up finish against Chad Green at this year's Gatornationals. The three round wins in the 2026 NHRA season-opening event brought her career total to 198 heading into this weekend's Arizona Nationals.
Her run to victory at the 2014 Arizona Nationals was even more impressive. After a first-round victory over Jeff Arend, the six-time NHRA Funny Car winner bowled over two of her biggest racing heroes - Del Worsham in the second round and current team owner and 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force in the semis. Those two major wins set up the final-round matchup against eventual three-time Funny Car Champion Robert Hight, where she ran 4.043 seconds at 309.63 mph while Hight's John Force Racing entry lost traction and spun the tires.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.
Quotes
What did it mean to you to get to the finals at Gainesville in your John Force Racing debut?
"It was absolutely wonderful to be able to get to the final round at Gainesville in our very first race with John Force Racing. It had been two years since I'd been to a final so just the way our Bandero team already works so well with the other JFR teams, the camaraderie, the knowledge and expertise is just unmatched gives us a great base to build on heading to Phoenix."
What was it like beating your drag racing heroes to win your first career Wally at Phoenix?
"Getting my first career Funny Car win in Phoenix in 2014 was such a major deal because I beat my heroes, John Force and Del Worsham, to get there. Those are some huge names there but, my gosh, you've got to beat the best to be the best. Going back to Phoenix with the success I've had there in the past and what we already have with the current Bandero team, there's an even greater confidence level in just knowing the racetrack, its little quirks here and there. I was also part of the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty race there, which we're a part of this week, is a hell of a confidence booster."
Are you able to detach from racing between NHRA events or do you stay in the zone?
"I'd say that the day after, I don't even unpack my bags. I try to take 24 hours off. You get maxed out on race weekends. It's hard going rounds. It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically, but my mind is never far from that race car. I mean, I eat, sleep and dream racing."
How do you prepare for going into a weekend you know is going to be very hot?
"It's just mind over matter. Luckily, we're not in these cars for hours and hours at a time, so I can't complain too much. It just takes a lot of meditation and some serious breathing exercises and lots of time in the fresh air."
Stats
Alexis DeJoria Race Result Qualified Event Round Record 2011 (FC) Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2012 (FC) DNQ 17th 0-0 2013 (FC) 1st round 11th 0-1 2014 (FC) Winner 4th 4-1 2015 (FC) Semi-finals 4th 6-2 2016 (FC) 1st round 11th 6-3 2017 (FC) 1st round 10th 6-4 2018 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2019 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2020 (FC) 1st round 10th 6-5 2021 (FC) NHRA Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2022 (FC) 2nd round 9th 7-6 2023 (FC) Semi-finals 2nd 9-7 2024 (FC) Runner-up 15th 12-8 2025 (FC) 1st round 6th 12-9
Wins: 1 (2014) ***1st Career Win
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 12-9
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Vandergriff to Build on Solid Start in Az Heat
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This weekend's event will be just the second time Vandergriff has competed at Firebird Motorsports Park but the Atlanta-area resident made the best of his inaugural visit with a seminal showing. After qualifying fourth, he ran low ET of the first round to defeat Brittany Force and then put Doug Kalitta on the trailer with a holeshot of almost three-hundredths of a second and a run just one-thousandth of a second quicker. Vandergriff cut a strong light in the semifinal against eventual race winner Billy Torrence (.064 to Torrence's .062) but smoked the tires shortly into the run.
The Cornwell Tools team, led by crew chiefs Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker, qualified eighth and reached the semifinal at this season's opening round at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. Vandergriff defeated John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman in the first round, John Smith in the second, and got the holeshot in the semifinal against eventual event winner Chad Green, running 4.068 seconds at 300.40 mph to Green's 3.980 at 324.83.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.
Quotes
What does it mean for your team to have had a strong start to the season?
It was huge for us, being a new team with Chris Cunningham and Jason Bunker as crew chiefs and a whole new crew, and me as a new driver. We came in there and just wanted to do the best we could and that semifinal finish for us is really, really good. We came together so quickly and we've gelled so quickly. We knew we could do the job and, looking forward to the rest of the year, we know we're capable of doing even better.
What are some of the positives you took away from Gainesville?
"The Cornwell Tools Chevy team left Gainesville fourth on the points. You know, that's really a great start. We've gelled so quickly as a team and were able to find some success right off the bat. We know that we're capable of doing even better so we're looking forward to Phoenix. Phoenix is going to be hot so the track is going to be tricky, but Gainesville was hot and we handled it pretty well, so I feel confident we're going to handle Phoenix well, too."
Do you detach from racing between events or stay at least somewhat in the zone?
"This is my first full season as a race car driver so I'm settling in and figuring out what my day-to-day life is in between races. So far, it's time spent staying ready, going to the gym, keeping my mind focused, keeping my body ready during the weeks between races. I love being at the race track and I'll be ready to hit the track again when we get to Phoenix."
Is there a different way to prepare for triple-digit temperatures expected in Phoenix?
"I think the most important thing is just to stay hydrated. I'll stay hydrated through this whole week and then, once we get to Phoenix, hydrate even more because you're gonna lose so much water in your sweat. So, for me it's just overloading a little bit and, when we get there, just making sure I'm on point with it."
Stats
Phoenix Race Result Qualified Event Round Record 2019 (TF) Semi-finals 4th 2-1
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 2-1
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Beckman Draws on Successful Firebird History
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BROWNSBURG, Ind. - Jack Beckman and his PEAK Chevrolet SS Funny Car team didn't begin the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season the way they had planned but John Force Racing's senior team has every reason to believe the March 20-22 FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park is where they will turn their fortunes around.
The 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion has earned 37 victories and 76 final-round appearances in the class since making his debut in 2006. Three event wins (2008, 2010, 2011), a runner-up finish (2020) and a semifinal's showing last season in 15 starts at Firebird give Beckman and the Dan Hood / Tim Fabrisi-led PEAK SQUAD the confidence to rebound after a first-round exit two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway.
Beckman qualified ninth (4.029 seconds) at the Gatornationals but faced No. 8 qualifier and John Force Racing teammate Jordan Vandergriff (3.990 seconds) in the first round. Beckman's run of 3.987 seconds was the third quickest of the round but not enough to get past Vandergriff's 3.970-second run.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after one of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37. Beckman is 11th with 32 points.
Quotes
How do you put Gainesville in the rearview mirror?
"It was disappointing because we had such a good preseason test session there. I don't know if it was just different sportsman cars also running on the track, or the preparation was different than testing. A lot of teams just had a tough time adapting to that and we got behind. When we missed it on the Friday night shot. I knew we had a tall order ahead on Saturday. I had to pedal it on the third qualifying run to get in the show that got bumped out on the fourth qualifying session while I sat there in the lanes. We finally made a good run in the final session but we really had to slow the PEAK SQUAD car down to get down that tricky track, and unfortunately, the best I could put us was number 9. So, we went into first round without lane choice against our teammate (Vandergriff). We ran the third quickest run of the round, but he was low ET of the round."
Does having won three times at Firebird give you confidence going into this week's event?
"NASCAR drivers or F1 drivers would tell you that they prepare based on the track that they go to, and it's not that all the NHRA tracks are identical, even though they're identical. Each lane's 30 feet wide. They're straight, they're a thousand feet of acceleration. There are different length shutdown areas, but each of them does have its own characteristics and nuances, and even that can change day to day and run to run. And what's going to be intense is like the hottest track temp we saw in Gainesville was I think about 124 degrees. We're likely gonna see 145 degrees in Phoenix, and that's just something where the crew chiefs have to do everything they can to reel back the clutch application to get these things down the racetrack."
How will the heat and the earlier qualifying schedule affect your race planning?
We're going to get four qualifying runs so it's very important and certainly preferred to unload with a good solid run. When you don't do that, you start out behind the 8 ball. Phoenix is not gonna have that traditional 'hero run' on Friday night. In fact, the better runs are probably gonna be the first run Friday and first run Saturday. So, it be a slightly different tempo to what we do, but the strategy remains the same."
How do you prepare any differently for the extremely hot temperatures in the forecast?
Except for when it's unseasonably cool, we're always sweating when we get out of the cars. Because not only are you wearing a fire suit, but you're wearing socks, shoes, boots, inner gloves and outer gloves, a head sock, and a helmet with a skirt on it, so there's just not a lot of room to cool yourself in there. You're sweaty on a 70 degree day so 100-degree days are going to be miserable. I guess the silver lining is we probably won't have a lot of humidity in Phoenix, but it's, it's gonna be interesting. My suggestion is if you're not prepared to sweat, driving a nitro funny car is probably not the best career.
Stats
Phoenix Race Result Qualified Event Round Record 2006 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2007 (FC) 1st round 9th 0-1 2008 (FC) Winner 15th 4-1 2009 (FC) 2nd round 11th 5-2 2010 (FC) Winner 7th 9-2 2011 (FC) Winner 5th 13-2 2012 (FC) Semi-finals 6th 15-3 2013 (FC) 1st round 10th 15-4 2014 (FC) 2nd round 6th 16-5 2015 (FC) 1st round 12th 16-6 2016 (FC) 2nd round 6th 17-7 2017 (FC) 1st round 6th 17-8 2018 (FC) 1st round 3rd 17-9 2019 (FC) 2nd round 14th 18-10 2020 (FC) Runner-up 6th 21-11 2021 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2022 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2023 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2024 Did Not Compete N/A N/A 2025 (FC) Semi-finals 3rd 23-12 Starts: 15
Wins: 3 (2008, 2010, & 2011)
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Final Rounds: 4 (2008, 2010, 2011, 2020)
Event Round Record: 23-12
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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