HART'S 'MONEYBALL' APPROACH TO TOP FUEL IS WORKING

by Bobby Bennett    Fri, 2021-05-07 08:59

 

One look at the DNA of Josh Hart's Top Fuel operation and his debut victory at the NHRA Gatornationals back in March shouldn't come as a surprise.

The team was built to win on a budget; a Moneyball type of approach in the volatile world of nitro-fueled drag racing. And for Hart, this approach might not be the truest sense of the term, but it sure is working.

Yeah, I had a very smart person. Some people have probably heard of him, Don Garlits," Hart said. "He said, 'You can pay every weekend to blow all your stuff up, or you can dig real deep and find a really good crew chief who won't blow all your stuff up."

"I chose to go with Ron Douglas because I have a lot of confidence, and we have the same demeanor, and he doesn't blow my stuff up."

The choice of Douglas as tuner only fits into the approach Hart has taken since choosing to graduate from the Top Alcohol Dragster division, where he methodically worked his way into the role of a contender. Hart's approach has been to remain on an even keel throughout the success - don't act too big, nor act too small. Instead, he's content just to act somewhere in the middle.

"I think it's just life experience, to be honest with you," Hart said moments before heading to the staging lanes during last weekend's final NHRA Southern Nationals. "My wife and I built our business, and we've lost everything in the past and built it all right back up to what you see now, and I apply that same thought process to the race team. Stay humble, be kind to everybody, I believe in karma. Let's win some races and go some rounds."

So far, Hart has five-round wins in two events making him the frontrunner for the 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year award. To put his pace in perspective, last season's top rookie Justin Ashley had only two round wins after his first two races,

The whole experience is still a pipe dream.

"I'll be in the shop working on something, and somebody comes in to sign something... It's totally out of this world," Hart admitted.

Before heading to the top of the nitro food chain, Hart had won NHRA Pro-Sportsman events, and while the experience was euphoric - winning Top Fuel took the experience to a whole new level. For Hart, it was business as usual.

"I just kinda hung out at the shop, tried to stay low-key and let it all simmer," Hart explained. "It had to settle in. It's still pretty surreal, and Gainesville was like a storybook, so it's going to be hard to top that, but we're going to try."

Winning the race was a challenge, but it didn't hold a candle to a more challenging moment. The moment FoxSport's Amanda Busek stuck a microphone in his face for a post-race interview.

"I still get nervous when you turn and you see the fans," Hart said. "When it comes to racing, for some reason, as soon as they start the car, all that nervousness goes away from me."

Cockiness can come with Top Fuel racing, but apparently, Hart didn't get the memo.

"I've had the floor yanked out from underneath me before, so I know better," Hart said.
 

 

 

 

 
Categories: 
:::::: News ::::::