2021 is going to be an interesting year for the NHRA Top Fuel ranks. For the last year or two we’ve seen some events without a full Top Fuel field, which has opened up the opportunities for smaller teams to get in the show and make some money. But it also has inspired some teams to push themselves and test to not only get in the show but be a real contender in the class. So it comes as no surprise that Top Alcohol’s Josh Hart has decided to step up in 2021 and aim high for the Top Fuel elite. He’s coming after then with both barrels blazing and we’re excited to see what 2020 will amount to for him and the team. Below is the official announcement.
(December 11, 2020) Top Alcohol Dragster pilot Josh Hart has announced his transition to the Top Fuel ranks on Friday. He will compete in the ultra-competitive NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Top Fuel category beginning with the season-opener at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway March 11-14, 2021.
Hart’s dream will come true at the Gatornationals. Every one of his first competitive passes has come at the historic venue.
Josh Hart competing in his former Top Alcohol Dragster (Photo by Josh Hart/Instagram)
“We decided to put everything on hold until now. Owning an operation was a way to have the flexibility of my own schedule. It’s amazing. You always
think about it if you’re an avid drag racer, or even if you’re a fan. You think, ‘Man, what would it be like to drive one of these things.’ I have achieved the goal.”
With this new venture, Hart will have more responsibilities than he previously had with his Top Alcohol Dragster pilot.
“You take your time,” he said. “You make sure that you hire really, really good
people. That’s been the secret to my success.”
Hart and his wife Brittanie are the owners of Burnyzz’s Speed Shop in Ocala, Florida. Burnyzz’s Speed Shop is a new and classic car restoration shop, detail shop, service center, and speed shop.
“Burnyzz runs like a well-oiled machine,” Hart said. “We have three divisions. We have the storage end of the company, we have the service end of the company, and the sales end of the company. We have really good managers and really good people in place, who have been with me for 10-years. They do a great job and they watch out for the house to make sure that everything runs smoothly. I’m very proud of those guys.”
Hart plans to compete in 12 to 14 races on the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
“I would say realistically, I’d think we’ll shoot for 12 to 14 races,” he said. “It depends on how the year goes. We’ll focus on the Northeast area with races from Dallas to Indianapolis and east.”
Josh Hart in the staging lanes at an NHRA event (Photo by Josh Hart/Instagram)
Two of the events that Hart is excited about attending is the Gatornationals and the U.S. Nationals. But he wants to get this Norwalk monkey off his back with the new operation.
“I’m super excited about Gainesville,” he said. “I don’t know why, but I’ve always wanted to win Norwalk, Ohio. I’ve never done well there with any car. That’s the track for me. I need to conquer it.”
When Hart is out there on the track, he’s going to face a variety of drivers, from multi-car teams to independent teams. Steve Torrence — the three-time World Champion — has proven over the last several years that an independent team can compete at a top-level with the multi-car teams.
“Steve Torrence is bad-ass,” Hart said. “You have to respect what they do. They’re self-funded and they have a strong family, business, and race team. They have an awesome racing program. It’s a dynamite package. I look forward to competing against him — and maybe even learn some things from him. All of the people who operate at this level are so professional.”
