For the second time in two weeks, second-generation racer Taylor Dietsch won a Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event. 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, 2024 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 in Reading 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’s engine gave way, and the team worked overnight to get ready for three rounds of racing on Sunday. The victory would come in his second career final round and was his first win from the No. 1 qualifying position. Coming into the Reading Nationals on the heels of his U.S. Nationals win, Dietsch felt a growing confidence.
“The U.S. Nationals win did a bunch for my confidence,” said Dietsch. “Getting that first win takes that big one off the plate. I am really feeling more comfortable in the car.”
Heading into the final, Dietsch was racing a veteran driver in Libersher, who was trying for his second consecutive Reading Nationals win in his fourth career final. With the second consecutive win, the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown bounty will double to $2,000 heading into the Midwest Nationals in St. Louis.
“I wanted to hang onto that bounty for as long as possible,” said Dietsch, who races alongside his father, Jason Dietch, and is learning the way steadily.
“I love racing with my dad and we have the best team behind me. Every time I go out before I run, I do five hits on the practice tree. I am constantly repeating that and practice makes perfect.”
Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak will lead the class into St. Louis as the points leader with a comfortable lead over the elder Dietsch, Lee Hartman, and Jason Allergrucci. Once again, the world championship will come down to what happens in the final two events of the season. Last year, Pawuk was in a close battle with two other drivers heading into the last race, but his mid-season dominance and a strong Reading Nationals have him set up for a second consecutive world championship.
“I have a totally different feeling this year heading to St. Louis,” said Pawuk following his semifinal finish in Reading. “Hopefully I’ll be relaxed going to St. Louis this year. I wish Scott Libersher the best. He helped me out by knocking out Lee Hartman, and David Janac helped by beating Jason Dietsch in the first round. Those two guys gave me a little bigger lead. I feel pretty comfortable going into St Louis that we’ve got a shot at winning our second championship.”
The final race of the season, the NHRA Midwest Nationals, will feature a world championship coronation as well as the opportunity for drivers of Ford Cobra Jets, Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks to close out their season with a victory at World Wide Technology Raceway.
