Josh Hart could hardly believe what had just happened.

After years of frustration and rebuilding his career, Hart stood in Victory Lane at Gainesville Raceway as the winner of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. The victory came in his first race driving for John Force Racing, making the moment even more meaningful.

For Hart, it felt like a dream.

The Ocala native defeated reigning Top Fuel world champion Doug Kalitta in the final round of the season opening event. Hart powered his Burnyzz/Speedmaster dragster down the track in 3.733 seconds at 337.83 mph, easily outrunning Kalitta’s slower pass to claim the trophy.

It was Hart’s third career Top Fuel victory and his first win in nearly five years.

The journey back to the top had not been easy. After winning in his Top Fuel debut at Gainesville in 2021, Hart endured several difficult seasons searching for consistency. Now, with the support of the legendary John Force Racing organization, he appears ready to start a new chapter in his career.

Everything seemed to click during the weekend.

Hart set the track speed record during qualifying and earned the first No. 1 qualifying position of his career. From there, he continued building momentum on race day. He defeated Dan Mercier, Tripp Tatum, and four time champion Antron Brown before facing Kalitta in the championship round.

When the lights turned green for the final run, Hart delivered.

His performance made an immediate statement to the rest of the Top Fuel field. The category remains one of the most competitive in the NHRA, but Hart’s debut with John Force Racing suggests he could become a serious contender in 2026.

The Gatornationals also produced memorable moments in the other professional categories.

In Funny Car, Chad Green returned to Victory Lane for the second straight year at Gainesville. Green defeated Alexis DeJoria in the final round, continuing his strong record at the historic event. Two of Green’s three career victories have now come at Gainesville Raceway, a track that clearly suits his driving style.

Pro Stock saw Matt Hartford snap his own long winless streak. Hartford captured his ninth career victory by defeating six time world champion Greg Anderson in the final round. The win was Hartford’s first since 2023 and ended a stretch of 40 races without a victory.

Meanwhile, Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Richard Gadson started his title defense in perfect fashion.

Gadson defeated John Hall in the final round to claim the Gatornationals victory, doing so on his birthday. The win marked the fifth of his career and reinforced the confidence he gained from winning the championship last season.

The Gatornationals once again delivered the excitement fans expect from one of NHRA’s most historic races. With a packed crowd in Gainesville and multiple dramatic storylines, the opening race of the 2026 season set a strong tone for the months ahead.

For Hart, however, the weekend was about more than just a trophy.

It was proof that perseverance can still pay off in motorsports.

After years of setbacks, Hart finally found himself back on top. And with the backing of John Force Racing behind him, this victory may be only the beginning of something much bigger.