Josh Hart is ready to put a difficult 2024 season behind him and make a statement as he opens 2025 close to home at the PRO Superstar Shootout. The event, held at Bradenton Motorsports Park, just a couple hours south of Hart’s Burnyzz speed shop in Ocala, is a high-stakes competition in a traditional Saturday night show format. For Hart, the special event is a fresh start and a critical opportunity to reset and redefine his team’s trajectory for the upcoming season.
Reflecting on 2024, Hart doesn’t mince words. “It was the worst season I’ve ever had. I never in a million years thought we’d have the second-fastest reaction time in the world and only win eight rounds.” After competing week in and week out in previous seasons, Hart lost in the opening round 12 times, failed to qualify at Norwalk, and visited the semifinals just once last season, miring him a disappointing 12th in the Top Fuel standings. “We just couldn’t seem to get ahead of the learning curve. It was tough—a lot of emotions, a lot of pressure.” Despite the challenges, Hart is determined to turn the page and approach 2025 with renewed focus.
The PRO Superstar Shootout’s format is a refreshing departure from the traditional NHRA national event, and Hart sees it as the perfect opportunity to regain some momentum. “It’s an awesome event. It is a race put on by racers, and it is very grassroots. The house was packed last year, and they listened to constructive criticism. I think 2025 is going to be even better now that it’s a little more refined,” he says.
For Hart, the relaxed, non-corporate atmosphere of the Superstar Shootout brings out the purest form of competition. “It’s what the fans wanted. You got even more close and personal with the drivers. The prize money was significant enough to get everybody’s attention, and it took a whole different approach to what other places should pay attention to.” This candid, raw energy resonates with Hart, who values the unfiltered passion of grassroots racing.
The Superstar Shootout also serves as a critical pressure test for teams as they prepare for another 20-race NHRA campaign. Josh Hart explains, “It’s the first of the year, so everybody’s trying new things. There is no boilerplate—you just throw whatever you’ve got at it. For us, it’s a big, fresh reset to set the tone for a big year. We’ve added Jason McCullough to the team, and focused on all the key points we needed. We should be a top contender, no questions asked.”
With the Superstar Shootout taking place on Hart’s home turf, the stakes feel even higher. “It definitely gets the adrenaline flowing. You go right into the fan fest at our place at Burnyzz and then the Gatornationals. It’s absolutely awesome to be on home turf for the first three major events.”
Hart’s message for 2025 is clear: “We want to win, and we’ll do whatever it takes to get back on top.”