ENNIS, Texas — Qualifying for the 41st annual NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and Stampede of Speed concluded today after several delays stemming from high winds and massive car counts at the 10-day event.
Doug Duell of Newburgh, Ind., captured his first career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series No. 1 qualifier with his final qualifying pass of 7.559 seconds at 182.82 mph. Duell will earn a competition bye in the first round behind the wheel of his Black Dodge Challenger.
“I feel good because I get a bye, so that’s awesome,” said Duell, a Factory Stock Showdown rookie. We’ve been sawing the log on this car all year. Everything that could happen to me has happened. Every race we make improvements. The last few races, I feel like we got an opportunity to win and go into the late rounds. We really feel good about tomorrow. I’m just super, super excited.”
A first round win will propel him into a possible first round match-up with either Scott Libersher or David Janac, the No. 6 and No. 7 qualifiers respectively. Duell has to wait overnight for the first round to commence at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at Texas Motorplex. The teams have worked their way through two days of qualifying and on race day Duell will be looking for four win lights in eliminations.
“I think as a racer, you’re just ready to go race right now,” said Duell. “The reality of things is these races are kind of a journey. It’s days and days of it. I’ll sleep good tonight. I’ll be ready tomorrow. I feel good about getting that bye because I can work on my tree a little bit, which has been a learning process because it’s my first year on a pro tree. I’m ready. I feel like I have an opportunity here.”
A tough field of competitors will stand in his way including Libersher and Raymond Nash, the No. 8 qualifier and No. 2 driver in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown points. Nash and Libersher are in a tight race for second place overall for the season. Two weeks ago, Jonathan Allegrucci clinched the 2026 world championship in St. Louis. The Texas Fall Nationals race day will be the culmination of 10-days of racing and Duell is eager to perform in front of a huge crowd.
“When we got here, I said to somebody, I feel like I’m at Indy (home of the historic U.S. Nationals),” said Duell. “There’s so much activity and so many awesome racers here. It’s quite an event.”
Reigning world champion Mark Pawuk qualified No. 10 and will face No. 3 qualifier Rouven Dawson.
