For the third race in a row Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown points leader Jonathan Allegrucci raced his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet into the Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals’ winner’s circle. Allegrucci raced a tough contingent of drivers throughout the day, culminating in a wild final round against No. 1 qualifier Raymond Nash. With the win Allegrucci has now joined 2018 world champion Leah Pruett as the only drivers to win three Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series races in row.
“I didn’t think two in a row was possible, and I honestly, I didn’t come into this race thinking we could get three in a row,” said Allegrucci, from the Flexjet winner’s circle. “I knew how hard this track is. This track is the reason I wanted to start drag racing. I would come to the circle track when I was younger. I drove across the back of the drag strip for parking, and I thought it’d be cool to go drag racing. That was before we even had a car. This track means something to me just for that memory.”
Over the offseason Bristol Dragway resurfaced their racetrack creating one of the smoothest racing surfaces on the NHRA tour. With the new surface came the unknown of new track conditions and a green racing surface. For Allegrucci’s team the challenge was something they knew every team would be facing.
“I know how hard it is to make these cars work on this track,” said Allegrucci. “We struggled with it. We have a big car, a heavy car and a little tire. Everyone said it was a one lane race track all day, and that right lane was no good. We knew what we had to do to make it go down. We still didn’t know if it would work, but it did. I just couldn’t be prouder of these guys in this team. We worked so hard.”
In the final Allegrucci was first off of the starting line with a .024 to .043 second reaction time advantage. Nash’s Dodge Challenger carried the front end as he charged down track. When his racecar settled down in the left lane it immediately made a move to the centerline. Nash was unable to stay in his lane and was disqualified for crossing the centerline as Allegrucci raced smoothly to victory seeing the win light as he cross the finish line.
“The first thing came to mind when I saw the win light was my wife,” said an emotional Allegrucci. “She doesn’t have to let me be here, but she does. She knows what it means to me and to our family. When that win light came on that’s all I thought about. That’s what makes it special.”
This was his fourth career final round and the win ensured the Flexjet bounty will roll over for the second consecutive race. At the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio, the bounty will increase to $3,000 to the driver that beats Allegrucci.
“If the bounty is at eight grand at the end of the year, I’m not going to complain,” said Allegrucci.Nash had a single in the semifinals and made a nice smooth and quick run. His run was quick enough to give him lane choice over Allegrucci in the final round. Allegrucci took a win in the semifinals over rookie Matthew Hartman in a classic Ford versus Chevrolet race. Hartman’s Chevrolet COPO Camaro spun the tires right off the starting line and Allegrucci in his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet cruised to his third consecutive final round. All the teams had to wait out a rain delay in the middle of the day. For the Flexjet drivers the delay was a test of their patience and mental fortitude.
“We knew with the weather that today was going to go to whoever’s team was mentally prepared.” Said Allegrucci. “We were in and out of the trailer. We hung in there and it just came together one step at a time. You have to put everything else aside and just take on the task at hand.”
In the quarterfinals Nash’s victory over Scott Libersher and his Chevrolet COPO Camaro was a two for one round win. His winning time of 7.839 seconds at 176.33 mph took the win when Libersher jumped the activation of the Christmas Tree resulting in a false start disqualification.
The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will be back in action at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 25-28, 2026.
The post Jonathan Allegrucci Scores Third Consecutive Win of Season at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
