GAINESVILLE, FL – The 2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will rev up March 5-8, 2026, at the historic NHRA Gatornationals, with two-time world champ Mark Pawuk looking to hold off a host of challengers. Pawuk, the 2024 Gatornationals winner, will strap into the all-new, Hemi-powered 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection and will face some of the toughest competition from Ford Cobra Jets and Chevrolet COPO Camaros in on-track action over a nine-race coast to coast schedule. The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will be one of the many highlight classes at Gainesville Raceway as the NHRA celebrates its 75th anniversary as the premiere drag racing sanctioning body in the world.

“I started racing in the 1970s with Dodge and Plymouth, and I’ll finish my career with Dodge,” Pawuk said. “Debuting the new Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary is special. We see tremendous potential. It’ll take time to develop—but I want to win one of those 75th-season Wallys, and I believe this car can do it.”

Pawuk’s return follows a dominant two-year run in the Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, where he claimed back-to-back championships in 2024–2025 with victories at Bristol and Norwalk, plus multiple semifinal finishes. After several successful test sessions in Florida, the veteran from Richfield, Ohio, now sets his sights on a historic three-peat—this time in an entirely new platform. Continue reading →

ST LOUIS – The final race of the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series came down to a battle between two Chevrolet Camaros and two drivers looking to end their season on a high note. Ricky Hord, the No. 9 qualifier, took the win over No. 6 qualifier Scott Libersher, today at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“This was a hard-fought race,” said Hord. “We didn’t get in until the last round of qualifying and ended up ninth. Getting this win is unbelievable, especially considering we’ve only managed to make it out to three races this year. That made it even more special.”

Hord’s route to the winner’s circle started when he defeated Lenny Lottig in the first round of eliminations yesterday. Hord was first off the line with a .026 second reaction time that gave him enough of an advantage to win on hole shot when his 7.762 second pass got to the finish line in front of Lottig’s quicker 7.758 second run. Lottig’s .044 second reaction time spelled doom for Lottig in the first round. Continue reading →

ST. LOUIS – The final Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown NHRA national event will be contested September 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, 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 father and 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. Continue reading →

READING, PA – For the second time in two weeks second-generation racer Taylor Dietsch won a Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event. Today in front of a packed house at Maple Grove Raceway Dietsch won the NHRA Reading Nationals outrunning David Davies II, Lenny Lottig, Raymond Nash and ultimately last year’s Reading Nationals winner Scott Libersher. As the No. 1 qualifier Dietsch captured all the accolades throughout the weekend and will head to the final race of the season looking to close out the year with three wins in a row. His success today also moved him into the No. 2 spot in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown point standings.

“I say it every time I have an interview, but I have the best team out there,” said Dietsch. “These guys were up till 2am last night, wrenching on this car after blowing an engine the first round yesterday. I got four hours of sleep, and that’s what I’m going to blame my slow light on in the finals. Winning again was awesome.”

In the opening round of eliminations Dietsch lost a motor and the team worked overnight to get ready for three rounds of racing today. This was his second career final round and first win from the No. 1 qualifier position. Coming into the Reading Nationals on the heels of his U.S. Nationals win Dietsch felt a growing confidence. Continue reading →

READING, PA – Taylor Dietsch, the most recent Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winner raced to the top of the NHRA Reading Nationals qualified field at Maple Grove Raceway. Dietsch’s 7.673 second pass at 179.06 mph pass during the first qualifier yesterday held up through two additional rounds and handed the second-generation Factory Stock Showdown driver his first career No. 1 qualifier. Dietsch is right in front of his father Jason Dietsch, Jonathan Allegrucci, James Betz and Raymond Nash to round out the top five qualifiers.

“It was a monster run. Personal best pass, best pass in this car,” said Dietsch. “Qualifying is really more of a testament to the team than it is to the driver. I have the best team out here. They just go to work every week after every race. They go from winning Indy two weeks ago and then doing number one qualifier here. It’s just awesome.”

Two weeks ago, Dietsch burst onto the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown scene winning for the first time. This weekend he will be looking to pick up his second win and move up in the point standings. A championship is not in the cards for the young driver, but the experience of winning multiple national events is on Dietsch’s radar and also he is able to relax more at the races. Continue reading →

READING, PA – With two races remaining in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series Mark Pawuk, the reigning champion, will be facing tough competition down the home stretch. Beginning this weekend with the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals at the historic Maple Grove Raceway Pawuk, who is sitting No. 1 in the points will have to be at the top of his game. The two-time 2025 winner has a 119-point lead over Jason Dietsch and a 121-point lead over Lee Hartman. Pawuk is not taking anything for granted when the toughest Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets come after his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

“You can never count anyone out in this class,” said Mark Pawuk, driver of the Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. “I am going to have to stay focused and drive the best I can. We had a pretty good Indy and in the semis my car just shut off. I am still not sure what happened there. We will be ready for Reading for sure. The Koretskys [the owners of Maple Grove Raceway] do an amazing job with that track, and they will pack the fans in. If I can go one or two rounds further than the guys behind me, I think I will be in pretty good shape, but you never know. This is going to come down to St. Louis and it will be exciting. The weather will be great, and we should see some great runs from all the classes.” Continue reading →