Two weeks ago, Ohioan Mark Pawuk, the two-time and reigning Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world champion, showed flashes of improvement racing to the semifinals at the Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn. This weekend Pawuk along with a host of Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge factory stock competitors will be looking to stop 2026 points leader Jonathan Allegrucci who has won the past three national events in a row. Pawuk and his 2026 Empaco backed Dodge Charger will head to Summit Motorsports Park where he took the title last year after two previous runner-up finishes.
“I finally got my ice cream scoop last year,” said Pawuk, of the custom ice cream scoop the track presents to all race winners. “That was on my bucket list, and I would love nothing more than to go back and run well this weekend. That scoop is 100 percent a display piece. If I stuck it in a gallon of ice cream, it would sink to the bottom it’s so heavy. That’s one of my prized possessions. Norwalk is the best track in the country.”
For Pawuk, the racing experience is more than the performance on the track. He runs Empaco Equipment Corporation out of Richfield, Ohio. Since 1978 they have been providing quality construction, maintenance and service for the petroleum storage and dispensing industry. Beyond Empaco, his racing operation has enjoyed successful marketing relationships with several Ohio-based companies.
“One thing that is special about Norwalk is a lot of my employees come out and support me,” said Pawuk. “They support me all year long while I’m away at the races, so I give them the opportunity at Norwalk to come out and spend a day with us. I think it’s pretty cool to host them and thank them for all their hard work. All my great sponsors are from the Ohio area including Mr. Heater, Ohio Cat and Ohio Peterbilt. Our big news this week is we just added Matco Tools for this race.”
While Pawuk will be looking to get back on track, Allegrucci will be focused on maintaining his historic winning streak. Only one other driver, Leah Pruett in 2018, has won three Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series national events in a row and no driver has ever won four in a row. The driver from Scotts Township, Pa., has captured wins at the 4-Wide Nationals, the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals and most recently at the Thunder Valley Nationals.
“This still feels like a dream coming true,” said Allegrucci, of his three-race win streak. “I can’t thank everyone enough who makes this happen. Everyone at KSR Racing – in and out of the shop – to everyone at home that helps while we’re gone, and everyone that comes to the track to make it all possible. It takes so many people to get us to and from the races. I am proud to be a part of this class and race with some of the great people we have met. I am especially excited to see Raymond Nash and the Underdawg Team having so much success.”As the points leader and most recent winner, Allegrucci is also protecting the Flexjet Bounty which has swelled to $3,000 to the driver that can defeat his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet on race day. So far Allegrucci has a 13-round win streak heading into the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals.
Joining Pawuk in the chase to defeat Allegrucci is Thunder Valley Nationals runner-up Raymond Nash, driver of the Team Underdawg Racing Dodge Challenger. In Bristol, Nash earned his first career No. 1 qualifier and competed in just his second career final round coming up short against Allegrucci. For Nash and his family-run team, competing at this national level is a welcome challenge and dream come true.
Qualifying will get underway on Friday for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. On Saturday one more round of qualifying at 10:30 a.m. will set the 16-car field. The Fords, Chevrolets and Dodges will roll into the first round of eliminations on Saturday evening and wrap up with three more elimination rounds on Sunday. For information on the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals visit www.nhra.com.
This story was originally published on June 25, 2026. 
The post Pawuk Looks to Defend Title at Home Track, Allegrucci Aims for Fourth Consecutive Win in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
