The final Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown NHRA national event will run this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway, but the championship picture is nearly complete. Reigning world champion Mark Pawuk enters the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals with a 153-point lead that makes him a lock for a second straight title.
Only a penalty of 36 points or more would prevent Pawuk from clinching the championship during qualifying. That scenario is considered unrealistic, leaving the veteran free to focus on a strong finish.
“I am looking forward to St. Louis and heading into this race I feel a lot better than last year,” Pawuk said. “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.”
A year ago, Pawuk outlasted Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers Scott Libersher and Stephen Bell in a tense fight for the crown. This season, his closest competition came from Jason and Taylor Dietsch, a father-and-son duo who raised the profile of Ford’s Mustang Cobra Jet.
Taylor Dietsch has been the breakout star, winning back-to-back races at Indianapolis and Reading in his rookie season. His late surge put pressure on Pawuk but left him too far behind in the standings to change the outcome.
“I said after we won the U.S. Nationals, I wanted to hold onto this Flexjet Bounty as long as possible,” Dietsch said. “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.”
The Flexjet Bounty program pays out to anyone who can defeat the most recent event winner. Dietsch’s streak means he will carry a $2,000 bounty target into St. Louis as he attempts to extend his winning streak.
Between Pawuk and the Dietschs, the three have combined for six of the seven Factory Stock Showdown wins this season. The only other victor came at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals, where Jonathan Allegrucci outlasted Pawuk, Tony Scott Jr. and Raymond Nash.
That result underscored the field’s depth. Nash, Libersher, Lee Hartman, Lenny Lottig and James Betz each reached finals, proving the class is not entirely dominated by Pawuk and Dietsch. Still, the two have clearly defined the 2025 storylines.
For Hartman, the Midwest Nationals provide another chance to capitalize on his strong qualifying runs. He has yet to break through for a victory despite several near misses.
“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,” Hartman said. “This class is so tough and the other drivers are great guys and very tough competitors.”
The weekend format calls for three qualifying sessions — Friday at 1 p.m. and 3:35 p.m., then Saturday at 11:10 a.m. Eliminations begin later Saturday, with the final two rounds scheduled for Sunday. Fans can watch in person at World Wide Technology Raceway, via NHRA.tv, or on FS1 following the event.
For Pawuk, St. Louis again becomes the backdrop to a championship moment. Last year he clinched in eliminations; this time, he is expected to lock it up during qualifying.
The 2025 campaign has been marked by manufacturer parity, with Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Dodge Challenger Drag Paks and Ford Mustang Cobra Jets all in contention. But Pawuk’s steady hand, paired with Dietsch’s breakout season, has defined the competitive narrative.
The season began in Gainesville with Jason Dietsch’s victory, followed by Pawuk’s early runner-up in Charlotte. Pawuk notched wins in Bristol and Norwalk, while Taylor Dietsch’s late charge delivered wins at Indianapolis and Reading.
Heading into the Midwest Nationals, Pawuk arrives with points security and experience, Dietsch with momentum and the bounty. Others such as Hartman and Nash enter with hopes of spoiling the closing chapter.
In a class built on factory pride, St. Louis will provide one last stage to settle the season. For Pawuk, it is the chance to cement his status as a repeat champion. For the rest, it is a chance to prove the depth of the field.
“Winning championships is never easy, but doing it in back-to-back years means even more,” Pawuk said. “To be able to share that with my family, my team, and the fans here in St. Louis is what makes all the work worth it.”
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
