Mark Pawuk Looking to Hold Off Serious Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Contenders Heading into Reading Nationals

READING, PA (September 10, 2025) – With two races remaining in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series Mark Pawuk, the reigning champion, will be facing tough competition down the home stretch. Beginning this weekend with the 40^th NHRA Reading Nationals at the historic Maple Grove Raceway Pawuk, who is sitting No. 1 in the points will have to be at the top of his game. The two-time 2025 winner has a 119-point lead over Jason Dietsch and a 121-point lead over Lee Hartman. Pawuk is not taking anything for granted when the toughest Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets come after his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

“You can never count anyone out in this class,” said Mark Pawuk, driver of the Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. “I am going to have to stay focused and drive the best I can. We had a pretty good Indy and in the semis my car just shut off. I am still not sure what happened there. We will be ready for Reading for sure. The Koretskys [the owners of Maple Grove Raceway] do an amazing job with that track, and they will pack the fans in. If I can go one or two rounds further than the guys behind me, I think I will be in pretty good shape, but you never know. This is going to come down to St. Louis and it will be exciting. The weather will be great, and we should see some great runs from all the classes.”

Pawuk is being pursued by another two-time 2025 national event winner, Jason Dietsch, and his son Taylor, the most recent winner and U.S. Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winner. The father-son combination is looking forward to getting to Reading and turning their luck around. Last year the elder Dietsch was primed for a successful weekend when issues with his race car sidelined him.

“Last year was my first time racing at Maple Grove, we were No. 2 qualifier and then we broke,” said Dietsch. “I am looking to turn my luck around this weekend. We need to close that gap on Pawuk and it won’t be easy. It is cool to have another NHRA national event race winner in our camp with Taylor. That gives us a lot of motivation to keep winning. Anything can happen so hopefully we can have a long race day.”

Dietsch had a big weekend in Chicago winning the delayed Gatornationals on Saturday for his first NHRA national event win and then winning on Sunday to capture the Gerber Collision & Glass Rt. 66 Nationals, defeating his son Taylor in the semifinals. Last weekend Taylor raced to the winner’s circle at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and this weekend he is bringing a relaxed confidence to Maple Grove Raceway to help his father.

“(Winning Indy) really sank in on Tuesday and that was almost better than the feeling on race day,” said the younger Dietsch. “We have been getting a little bit better at every race and to win the biggest race of the year is cool. I am heading to the Reading Nationals a little more relaxed because we have won an NHRA national event. I don’t think I am going to change anything. We have competed for championships in other series and changing your routine just seems to mess you up. My dad and I are just going to try and do our best and hopefully close the gap on the point leader.”

While the Dietschs, along with Lee Hartman, who sits No. 3 in the standings will be trying to chase down Pawuk, defending 2024 Reading Nationals winner Scott Libersher will be looking to finish a tough season on a high note. Last year Libersher won at Maple Grove Raceway putting himself in position with Pawuk and Stephen Bell to race for the championship in St. Louis. This year traction issues have slowed his Chevrolet COPO Camaro but his enthusiasm and passion for winning have not waned. His best finish to this point was a solid runner-up at the Norwalk national event.

“I am going to do my best to win again,” said Libersher, who sits seventh in the standings. “We have been battling some traction problems. This class is so tough you have to have everything clicking. I like a good challenge. These races are won by a thousandth of a second so when it comes down to it you have to be ready. The hotter weather has been better for the Chevys so we’ll see what we can do this weekend in Reading.”

The win last year will remain a fond memory for Libersher considering he had a full pit of friends and family all weekend. This year he will be looking for more encouragement.

“It was great to have all my family there,” said Libersher. “They are my biggest supporters, and it is just cool to win with all your family at the races. This whole sport is really a family sport and there is no way I can do this without them behind me cheering me on.”

The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown competitors will have three qualifying runs allowing each team to get data and fine-tune their race cars. Friday, September 12 will feature qualifying runs at 11:30 a.m. and 1:35 p.m. and on Saturday, teams make their final qualifying pass at 11:45 a.m. before going into eliminations later that day. Sunday morning will open with the final two rounds of eliminations. Fans can catch all the action live from Maple Grove Raceway in person or on NHRA.tv. They can also tune into the FS1 broadcast following the conclusion of the race on Sunday.

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

2025 FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE

• Sept. 26 – 29: NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.

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