Mark Pawuk Family Racing
Two-time FSS Champion Mark Pawuk Debuts All-new Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak
SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Thrill Rides Fuel up for NHRA Gatornationals
Auburn Hills, MI – The all-new HEMI?-powered Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection fires up for its drag racing debut 
this week when two-time Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) champion Mark Pawuk wheels the new machine in the 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Florida, March 5-8.
For the first time ever, a race-prepared version of the next-generation Dodge Charger unites with SRT race HEMI power to create the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection. Unveiled at last year’s Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals, the Charger Drag Pak features a high-powered 354 cubic inch HEMI V-8 engine.
Only 50 serialized units of the 2026 Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak by Direct Connection, the most technologically advanced Drag Pak race car to date, will be built. The limited-production drag car is engineered for grassroots NHRA Sportsman drag racers, with each of the 50 race cars NHRA-approved for Factory Stock Showdown competition. Continue reading
Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown sets nine-race schedule for 2026 season, Mark Pawuk Looking for Three-Peat
CLEVELAND, OH – Flexjet, a global leader in private aviation, will continue as the title sponsor of the exciting NHRA Factory Stock 
Showdown class, which will make nine appearances at NHRA national events during the upcoming 2026 season. Two-time world champion Mark Pawuk will be looking to make it three championships in a row when the series kicks off at the historic Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. Competitors from across the country will be battling it out on the track in Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet factory hot rods.
Mark Pawuk captured his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Series world championship in St. Louis , photo credit Auto Imagery
The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will add an extra race for 2026 and will begin its season at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., on March 5-8 before heading to Charlotte, N.C. for the four-wide race on April 24-26. From there, the class will race at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago on May 14-17, followed by races at picturesque Bristol Dragway on June 12-14 and then fan-favorite Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 25-28. Continue reading
Mark Pawuk Wins Second Consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown World Championship
ST. LOUIS – Mark Pawuk dominated the middle portion of the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series and held off a furious charge from a 
pair of Mustangs Cobra Jets driven by Jason and Taylor Dietsch down the stretch to win his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series world championship today at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Pawuk drove his Empaco-backed Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to victories at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio and the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee along with a runner-up finish at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals to create a sizeable point lead which he maintained coming into this weekend’s Napa Auto Parts Midwest Nationals. Pawuk officially clinched the championship at the conclusion of qualifying. He was awarded his world championship trophy and medal following the first round of eliminations today by Flexjet executive David Davies II.
“I kind of knew I had it locked coming into St. Louis,” said Pawuk. “During the season I kept going rounds and we had the lead after a couple wins. The guys that were right on my tail both got knocked out early at a couple races, and we were consistent all year. I have to take my hat off to David Barton and Ray Barton Racing Engines. I want to thank all my sponsors Ohio Cat, Mr. Heater, Summit, Red Line Oil, E3, and Westfield Bank for all their support all season. ” Continue reading
PAWUK RUNS TO FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN NO. 1 AT NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS
ST LOUIS – Mark Pawuk, ran to his first No. 1 qualifier of the 2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series season today at the NAPA Auto 
Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. Pawuk was the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the end of Friday with a solid 7.100 second pass which he lowered today to 7.702 seconds in the final session. He will head into the final race of the season with a first round match-up against Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown rookie Josh Hart.
“I didn’t realize I have been number No. 1 here so much,” said Pawuk, a three-time No. 1 qualifier in St. Louis. “I just love this track. The car seems to respond well here. I won my first race here in 2023 when I came back after starting back in Factory Stock in 2018.”
This is Pawuk’s seventh career Flexjet Factory Stock No. 1 qualifier. In 2023 he was No. 1 and won the race at the Midwest Nationals, the only time he has done that in his factory stock career. This season Pawuk has recorded two wins and one runner-up finish. Following the first round of eliminations today Pawuk will officially be recognized and crowned the 2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Series world champion. Continue reading
Fresh Off Bristol Win, Reigning Factory Stock Champ Mark Pawuk Eyes Elusive Norwalk Victory in Front of Hometown Crowd
RICHFIELD, OH – Since returning to NHRA competition in 2018, former Pro Stock racer turned Factory Stock competitor Mark Pawuk has 
been vocal about his goals for the second chapter of his drag racing career. “The Cowboy” as he’s known to fans has had his sights set on achieving several specific marks, among them winning the historic Gatornationals event and a Factory Stock Showdown Series championship, both of which he attained during the 2024 season. Now, the defending Factory Stock world champion is laser-focused on another personal milestone – winning an NHRA national event at his home track. He’ll have the opportunity to do just that this weekend when the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series returns to Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, June 27 – 29, for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
Pawuk, a native of the Buckeye State who resides in the Akron area, has been racing at the Norwalk facility since the mid-1970s. While he has had success there in the NMCA (National Muscle Car Association) Series, picking up two Norwalk wins aboard his Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, an NHRA triumph has eluded him. In addition to winning the ’24 season opener in Gainesville, Fla. en route to his first NHRA title, Pawuk also clinched a victory at the St. Louis event and scored the No. 1 qualifying position in both Pomona, Calif. and Reading, Pa. While his 2025 season didn’t get off on as much of a hot start as last year’s campaign, Pawuk, who is fresh off a win from the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the most recent Factory Stock event, has been steadily gaining momentum throughout the first half of the eight-race schedule and feels confident that this could be the year he finally checks a Norwalk NHRA triumph off of his bucket list. Continue reading
Championship Contender Mark Pawuk Eager for Strong Showing at Hometown Race
NORWALK, OH – Sitting a mere five points out of second place in the Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Series standings, Mark ‘the 
Cowboy’ Pawuk is looking for continued success when he returns to his hometown facility this weekend for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Aboard the ‘Don Schumacher’ tribute Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak sponsored by Empaco Equipment, Pawuk will seek his second win of the season and third overall in the category at Summit Motorsports Park.
Pawuk powered to victory at the 2024 NHRA season-opener in Gainesville, Florida in March and would love nothing more than to add a Wally trophy from a track that holds so much history for the former Pro Stock racer.
“Winning Gainesville was a bucket list item for me,” said Pawuk, a lifelong Ohio resident who calls Akron home. “The Gatornationals was one of those events I always wanted to win. It was really special because that was where I debuted my Don Schumacher tribute car. I’m racing in his honor this year, and the only thing that could match that moment would be finishing the weekend in the winner’s circle with family and friends here in Norwalk. I started racing here in the 1970s and have such great memories from this facility. I miss my good friend Bill Bader Sr. We lost him two years ago today. His birthday was earlier this week, and I always have the Bader family in my thoughts. Continue reading
MARK PAWUK GRABS FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN NO. 1 AT NHRA WINTERNATIONALS
POMONA, CA – Mark Pawuk started the NHRA Winternationals running to the top of the qualifying order and continued to put pressure on 
his Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown competitors. The NHRA Gatornationals winner ran 7.856 seconds at 178.87 mph in the opening session of qualifying Friday. Pawuk’s Empaco Dodge Drag Pak that is memorializing his longtime friend and NHRA Hall of Famer Don Schumacher held off the rest of the field through the second session. After Saturday’s qualifying session was rained out Pawuk earned his fifth No. 1 qualifier and will enter Sunday looking to secure his third national event win.
I won the Gatornationals two weeks ago and I would love to win the Winternationals this weekend,” said Pawuk, from his pit after qualifying was cancelled. “Flexjet Factory Stock has never run in Pomona so getting the first win would be cool. We have a good hot rod but there are a lot of tough cars here this weekend. I am going to have to be on top of my game. We had a couple good runs yesterday and Mother Nature didn’t cooperate with us today. We’ll be ready for race day tomorrow.”
PAWUK LOOKS TO CONTINUE HOT STREAK AT WINTERNATIONALS WITH ANOTHER FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN WIN
POMONA, CA – Veteran driver and team owner Mark Pawuk opened the season with an emotional win at the NHRA Amalie Motor Oil 
Gatornationals racing to his second career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series victory. The win was sweeter because he was driving a Dodge Drag Pak designed to honor long-time friend and NHRA Hall of Famer Don Schumacher, who passed away over the off-season. For Pawuk, a long-time NHRA Pro Stock competitor turned Flexjet Factory Stock racer, the win was meaningful on a variety of fronts. He will get his chance to continue his win streak as the fan-favorite series makes its debut on the West Cost at the NHRA Winternationals, at In-N-Out Dragway in Pomona, Calif., March 22-24.
“The Gatornationals is one of the biggest races in the NHRA and I have always wanted to win in Gainesville,” said Pawuk, from the Gatornationals winner’s circle. “To get that win and to have Don’s name on the race car was special. Don was a great friend and competitor. This class has a lot of tough drivers and cars, so anytime you can turn on a win light that’s a big deal. Racing Stephen (Bell) in the final was tough. I knew I would need to get off the line quick and hopefully hold him off. I can’t wait to get to Pomona and show off for the California fans who have never seen this class.”
Mark Pawuk Sweeps NHRA Midwest Nationals with First Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Victory
MADISON, IL – Coming into eliminations as the No. 1 qualifier, Mark Pawk and his Empaco Equipment Dodge Drag Pak team picked up 
their first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown victory of his career Sunday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
On his way to victory, Pawuk, who was the No. 1 qualifier, set the national elapsed time record at 7.583 seconds and won $1,000 in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Bounty Program by defeating the previous event winner, Aaron Stanfield.
Mark Pawuk (foreground) races to his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown victory, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery
In the finals, Pawuk took on Stephen Bell and his Stanfield Racing Engines Chevrolet COPO Camaro. Pawuk would have the starting line advantage and never trailed for a 7.638-second pass at 180.89 mph bettering Bell’s 7.651 at 179.47.
Pawuk Family Racing Making a Run for Two NHRA Trophies at Ohio Homecoming
RICHFIELD, OH – After making their debut in Florida in March, the Richfield, Ohio-based Pawuk Family Racing organization is looking 
forward to returning to Summit Racing Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio where the team will compete under the family banner for the first time at its home track.
Led by team owner Mark “The Cowboy” Pawuk, Pawuk Family Racing (PFR) will be competing for two Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Wally trophies this weekend. Pawuk will be back behind the wheel of the team’s flagship entry, the Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, competing in the NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown Series for the fifth time this season. Son Kyle will pull double-duty throughout the weekend, swapping between wrenching on his father’s car and driving Scott Libersher’s COPO Camaro in the Stock Eliminator class. Pawuk’s daughter, Kassandra, will continue to lead the team’s social media efforts while wife Bonnie retains her place as the backbone of the PFR operation.
“I’m really proud that we’ve been able to build this team as a family,” said Pawuk, a lifelong resident of Akron, Ohio. “We formed Pawuk Family Racing over the last off-season and have competed in several NHRA and NMCA events since. Kyle completed PFR’s second entry, a Super Gas car, back in April and has been enjoying getting some seat time after licensing at Frank Hawley’s school last summer. While he’ll be switching it up and driving Scott Libersher’s car this weekend, it’s exciting that we could have a chance to double up at our home track.”
