The final Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown race of the 2025 season will take place this weekend at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, and in short order, a series champion will be crowned. Reigning world champion Mark Pawuk is all but assured a second consecutive title — he simply has to qualify for the field and avert penalty points over the course of the event. The veteran driver holds a 153-point lead over surging Taylor Dietsch, and based on the maximum available points (118), Pawuk is virtually a mathematical lock. 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’m looking forward to St. Louis and heading into this race. I feel a lot better than last year,” said Pawuk. “We’ve 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, will make this a special weekend.”
Last year, Pawuk was in a tight battle with COPO campaigners Scott Libersher and Stephen Bell, and his Empaco Dodge Drag Pak prevailed. This year, Pawuk had to hold off the father-and-son team of Jason and Taylor Dietsch down the stretch. Taylor Dietsch has won the past two Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series events in his first full season competing in the class behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. He will carry a $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 Dietsch family 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 Four-Wide 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 one of the most exciting series to follow . Veteran driver Hartman will be looking to close out the season with his first career 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’m 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.”
Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown competitors will have three qualifying runs in St. Louis, allowing each team to get data and fine-tune their race cars. Friday, September 26th, will feature qualifying runs at 1:00 p.m. and 3:35 p.m. On Saturday, teams are scheduled to make their final qualifying pass at 11:10 a.m. before going into eliminations later that day. Sunday will host the final two rounds of eliminations.
Fans can catch all of the action at Word Wide Technology Raceway in person or on NHRA.tv. Final eliminations for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series are scheduled to be shown Sunday from 3-6 p.m. ET on FS1.
2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results
Gainesville –Jason Dietsch, winner; Lenny Lottig, runner-up
Charlotte – Jonathan Allegrucci, winner; Mark Pawuk, runner-up
Chicago – Jason Dietsch, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up
Bristol – Mark Pawuk, winner; James Betz, runner-up
Norwalk – Mark Pawuk, winner; Scott Libersher, runner-up
Indianapolis –Taylor Dietsch, winner; Raymond Nash, runner-up
Reading – Taylor Dietsch, winner; Scott Libersher, runner-up
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