Veteran Drag Racer Shawn Reed and A-Fuel Driver Josh Hart join Bob Vandergriff Racing in 2019. The two drivers will join teammate Jordan Vandergriff competing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.  Reed plans to compete in seven to eight races, with the intent to add more to the schedule. Hart will be running a full season in his A-Fuel Dragster but hopes to earn his Top Fuel license in the spring and compete at four races in 2019.

“On behalf of, myself, Ron Douglas, Joe Barlam and all of our crew personnel I can say we are excited to welcome Shawn and Josh to the team, they truly seem appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to race with BVR and have a chance to win races any time they show up at the race track which certainly means a lot to all of us moving forward,” said team owner Bob Vandergriff.

Reed is a five-time Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series Champion. He earned his Top Fuel license in 2015. In 2017, he made it to the semifinals in his second race of the season and was a nominee for NHRA’s rookie of the year prize – The Automobile Club of Southern California’s Road to the Future Award. In 2018, Reed made his first final round appearance at the NHRA Gatornationals and went on to qualify for every event he entered.

“I’ve always looked up to Bob and I’m flattered he is putting me in his car. We’ve talked on the starting line for a couple years and have gotten to know each other. I’m excited about the prospect of our sponsors, D.A. Lubricants and Hughes Oilfield Transportation, working together too,” said Reed. “I can’t wait to get to Phoenix testing to meet the BVR crew and get behind the wheel of a dragster that can go in the 3.70’s. I want to go rounds and win some races.”

Hart is an NHRA Division 1 Champion who has back-to-back wins at the historic U.S. Nationals. Since obtaining his Top Alcohol Dragster license in 2015 he has won three NHRA National event titles and eight NHRA regional races.

“I’ve always wanted to drive Top Fuel and the perfect opportunity came around with BVR. Jordan and I have competed against each other the past year and I talked to him about licensing in Top Fuel and we came up with the plan,” said Hart. “I’m proud that someone as credible as Bob has selected me to drive for him and most importantly, he understands the class needs new blood and is willing to teach.”

The BVR dragsters will be headed by crew chiefs Ron Douglas and Joe Barlam. In the next few weeks the team will head west to test the D.A. Lubricant dragster and help Jordan Vandergriff earn his Top Fuel license.

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