GATEWAY, Ill. — Mark Pawuk, ran to his first No. 1 qualifier of the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series Saturday at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
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.”
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.
