PAWUK RUNS TO FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN NO. 1 AT NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS

 Mark Pawuk and his Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak ran to the No. 1 qualifier spot at the NHRA Midwest Nationals,
photo credit Auto Imagery

By: Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown

ST LOUIS (September 27, 2025) —- 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.
 
“What a way to go out at the last race this season,” said Pawuk. “I’ve been fighting for that number one qualifying spot all year. Those Fords have been taking it away from me, and I finally got that Dodge up there at the top spot.”

While Pawuk will be racing for his third win of the season, he will have to hold off Taylor Dietsch, the No. 3 qualifier, who will carry $2,000 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series bounty. Rouven Dawson and his Chevrolet COPO Camaro will have the first chance to grab the bounty from Dietsch and his Ford Mustang in the first round.
 
Another significant first round match-up will include No. 3 in points Jason Dietsch racing Lee Hartman, who is No. 4 in points. There is a fierce battle for second place in the standing between the two Dietschs and Hartman. The trio is separated by nine points. Each of the Dietschs have won twice this season and Hartman is looking for his first career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win.
 
Final eliminations for the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals will feature the 16 quickest Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Mustang Cobra Jets and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks. The first round begins this afternoon and continues Sunday, September 28.

First Round Match-ups
No. 1 Mark Pawuk vs. No. 16 Josh Hart
No. 2 Raymond Nash vs. No. 15 David Davies II
No. 3 Taylor Dietsch vs. No. 14 Rouven Dawson
No. 4 Alex Anderson vs. No. 13 James Betz
No. 5 Jason Dietsch vs. No. 12 Lee Hartman
No. 6 Scott Libersher vs. No. 11 Jesse Alexandra
No. 7 Jonathan Allegrucci vs. No. 10 David Janac
No. 8 Lenny Lottig vs. No. 9 Richard Hord