NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The final Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown national event will be contested Sept. 26-28 at World Wide Technology Raceway during the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.

Reigning world champion Mark Pawuk is all but assured of winning his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world title at the conclusion of qualifying. The veteran driver holds a 153-point lead over a surging Taylor Dietsch, and based on the maximum available points of 118 points, Pawuk is a mathematical lock for the title as long as he does not incur 36 penalty points, a near impossibility. A full field of Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Dodge Challenger Drag Paks, and Ford Mustang Cobra Jets will be vying for the national event title, looking to best Pawuk and Dietsch.

“I am looking forward to St. Louis, and heading into this race, I feel a lot better than last year,” said Pawuk. “We have had a great season, and I have to thank all my sponsors and my family for their support. We clinched the championship in St. Louis last year, and to do it again, hopefully in St. Louis, will make this a special weekend.”

Last year, Pawuk was in a tight battle with Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers Scott Libersher and Stephen Bell, and his Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak prevailed. This year, Pawuk had to hold off the father-son team of Jason and Taylor Dietsch down the stretch. Taylor Dietsch has won the past two Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown series races in his first full season competing in the class behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. He will carry the $2,000 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown bounty into the Midwest Nationals.

“I said after we won the U.S. Nationals, I wanted to hold onto this Flexjet Bounty as long as possible,” said Dietsch. “We kept it through the Reading Nationals, and I would like to make it $3,000 going into next season. This has been a lot of fun, and I want to just stay relaxed and keep doing my best job behind the wheel.”

Pawuk and the Dietschs have dominated the season, capturing wins at six of the seven Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown national events. Jason Allegrucci was able to break through at the Charlotte NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, outrunning Pawuk, Tony Scott Jr., and Raymond Nash for the win. Five other drivers joined Pawuk with runner-up finishes this season, including Nash, Libersher, Lee Hartman, Lenny Lottig, and James Betz. The diversity of the top finishers has made the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown series one of the most exciting for fans to follow in 2025. Veteran driver Hartman will be looking to close out the season with his first career Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown win after a season of strong No. 1 qualifier efforts and close races.

“We have had a lot of opportunities this season, and I am looking forward to St. Louis to see if we can close out with a win,” said Hartman. “This class is so tough, and the other drivers are great guys and very tough competitors.”