NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

On this episode of the NHRA Insider powered by Speedmaster, Josh Hart and Mike Knudsen join host Brian Lohnes to talk about the offseason, preparing for 2026, what they are looking forward to, and how this next season will show off the evolution of their respective careers.

Hart goes into depth about his experience so far at John Force Racing, his new sponsorship with Speedmaster, and how the team is working to craft the most precisely tailored Top Fuel dragster he has ever piloted. He talks about the shift in pressure from being an owner/driver to a dedicated driver, what David Grubnic and John Collins are doing, and how fired up he is for Gainesville.

Knudsen heads into the 2026 season with something virtually no other Funny Car crew chief has: the same team. The growth they showed in 2025, along with the stability they bring into 2026, means that the car, which finished second last season, is expected to challenge for a title once again. Knudsen talks approach, new tracks, how the tuners will navigate them, and what he learned from last year.

Some awesome deep insight from these two guys who will star prominently in the 2026 nitro-fueled war that will be NHRA competition.