BRISTOL, Tenn. — The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown series will roll into Bristol Dragway this weekend, June 12-14, with history on the line for points leader Jonathan Allegrucci and his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet.
The driver from Scott Township, Pa., is looking to win his third consecutive race in a row in the ultra-competitive factory stock class. Through the first three races, the drivers wheeling Cobra Jets, Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks have battled it out on tracks across the country.
This weekend’s Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals will be another test for Allegrucci who is on a hot streak but was almost faced with a tough decision heading into this weekend.
“This is by far our best racing streak we have had. This stretch has been great,” said Allegrucci. “We had a lot of things going on at home too that are good. We are only coming to Bristol because we had our baby early. We were supposed to be in the hospital this Wednesday, delivering the baby, which meant no Bristol, but he must have heard us all talking about him and he came earlier. Everything’s good with mom and the new baby so we are going racing.”
The last time a driver won three Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown races in a row was current Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett, who drove her Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to three straight wins to close out the 2018 season and clinch her world championship in the factory stock class before moving into Top Fuel. Allegrucci is enjoying this run but also trying to stay focused on the task at hand.
“I don’t know that I would call it pressure,” said Allegrucci. “You start feeling you are running well and you almost start to expect it a little. We’ve been doing this for a long time, and it took a while to get that first win. You just can’t take it for granted. If three in a row doesn’t happen, it’s okay. Hearing that when Leah did it, she also won the championship is a good sign if we could pull it off.”
He will face tough competition from 2025 Bristol Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown winner and two-time world champion Mark Pawuk. Pawuk has been racing a new car this season and has shown flashes of success. Heading to historic Bristol Dragway has the Ohio-based driver excited and ready to get back into the winner’s circle with his Empaco-backed Dodge Charger Hustle Stuff Drag Pak.
“It has been very cool to be the first to run the new ‘26 Dodge Charger,” said Pawuk. “It’s their platform for the future. For me to be a part of that has been a real honor. We’ve had our struggles, but my team is working with the group of Dodge engineers who are working to get this thing turned around. It’s a brand new race car. It’s totally different than everything that’s run out there. It’s got a longer wheelbase and it’s a wider race car. It’s just going to take time to get it figured out. But long term I think it’s going to be a very competitive car.”
Pawuk has a long history at Bristol Dragway going back decades to when the track was sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association and as a Pro Stock competitor in the NHRA. For years, victory eluded Pawuk. Last year as Pawuk was chasing his second Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series world championship things fell into place and the veteran driver took advantage of a victorious weekend.
“I started racing in Bristol early in my career, and I never ran good there,” said Pawuk. “I think I got to the semifinals one time in Pro Stock. Last year Bristol was kind of a jumpstart for me. We won Bristol and Norwalk back-to-back and that got me back into the championship. I’ve always loved that place. It’s a beautiful area. I would love nothing more than to get my Dodge Charger back in the winner’s circle this weekend.”
Allegrucci is also ready to take on the challenge of winning again with a new rules package. The NHRA Technical Department announced they are allowing the Dodge Charger competitors to increase the supercharger overdrive by changing the upper supercharger pulley. Throughout the season the NHRA regularly adjusts the rules across all classes of competitors to create parity across all classes.
“There’s been some rule changes, but I’m not gonna lie, I think they were needed,” said Allegrucci. “We all want good close racing. It’s got to be the combination of the car, the crew and the driver all working together. I feel good heading to Bristol.”
