Penultimate Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Race Set for Maple Grove Raceway
Heading into the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series competition will be closer than ever with three drivers battling for the world championship. Point leader David Janac holds a 22-point lead over Mark Pawuk and Stephen Bell sits in third place a mere 48-points behind Janac. The series features factory bodied and powered Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Dodge Drag Paks and Ford Mustang Cobra Jets in heads up racing with driver skill off the starting line a key component to victories in every event.
“This class has some of the toughest racers racing some of the coolest cars from Camaros to Cobra Jets to Dodges,” said Bell, a five-time finalist this season. “The competition is fierce, and we have had a great season. We came close to the championship last year and our goal this year has been to seal the deal. We have two races left to get the job done.”
Bell picked up wins at the historic Winternationals, the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals in Chicago and the Norwalk Nationals outside of Cleveland. He has also tallied two additional runner-up finishes. Point leader Janac won for the first time in his career at the Thunder Valley Nationals, outrunning Bell in the final. Pawuk opened the season with a win at the Gatornationals and he was runner-up to Bell at the Norwalk national event. All three Flexjet competitors are looking for their first world championship in the factory stock class.
“Your goal at the beginning of every season is to compete for the championship,” said Pawuk, a former Pro Stock standout driver. “We have two races to go and we are in the thick of the points battle. These last two races starting with Reading will be critical. I am excited to get this Empaco Dodge on track in Maple Grove Raceway.”
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The winner of the Toyota U.S. Nationals, Kevin Skinner, destroyed a motor on his winning run and will not attend the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals. The Flexjet $1,000 bounty will roll to event runner-up Raymond Nash. So far this season, six different drivers have collected the bounty and heading into the Reading Nationals the opportunity to pick up the extra cash is a great motivator.
“I have done a good job of getting the Flexjet bounty this season, but I haven’t been able to hold onto it,” said Bell, a three-time winner this season. “I hate it for Kevin that he won’t be able to get to this race but maybe I will match up with Raymond and get a shot at winning that $1,000. I think it is great Flexjet has the bounty program because we all keep track of it and like to try and get that extra payday.”
The quickest Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge competitors will race through four rounds of competition looking to collect the iconic Wally trophy at the ninth Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national event of 2024. Qualifying for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will begin on Friday, September 13 with two sessions followed by a final session on Saturday afternoon. Eliminations will start on Saturday evening and carry over into Sunday. The race will be broadcast on FS1 and FOX throughout the weekend.
This story was originally published on September 11, 2024.
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