Top Fuel racer Josh Hart didn’t mince words when he said there would be changes to his R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster following a DNQ at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. 

“I apologize to R+L Carriers,” Hart said. “We are a full-time operation running like a part-time operation. I am extremely disappointed. It is time for some major changes within our camp. If you are not going to be great, why come out?”

Tuesday morning came the first of those moves. 
 
Hart hired veteran crew chief John Stewart to assist Ron Douglas in the preparation and tuning and plan a comprehensive test session before the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways.
 
“John is a welcome addition to our team, and this move is something that both Ron and I talked about and feel is needed to get our R+L Carriers team on track for the Top Fuel world championship,” said Hart. “We are going to test prior to heading to Seattle so we can make the most of the final four regular-season races prior to the start of the Countdown. Competing at this level with so many intricacies involved in the modern-day Top Fuel dragster, every team has two top-tier crew chiefs or tuners with years of experience in the pits (so) this is just what we need to be as competitive as possible.”

Stewart has over five decades of experience tuning nitro Funny Cars and Top Fuel dragsters, working for some of the biggest names in the sport, including Darrell Gwynn, Don Prudhomme, Joe Amato, Shawn Langdon, and Dick LaHaie.  One of Stewart’s principal strengths is his understanding of the dynamics of the intricate clutch system.