With three races remaining in the 2026 Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Series, Jonathan Allegrucci has a commanding points lead over Raymond Nash and Scott Libersher. Allegrucci’s Ford Mustang Cobra Jet has raced to three wins and two runner-up finishes in five consecutive final round appearances. As the national series heads to the inaugural Dodge Great Lakes Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich., Nash, who sits in second place in the Flexjet points, is looking to close the gap with a strong weekend.
“We’re very confident,” said Nash, driver of the Underdawg Motorsports Dodge Challenger. “We had the opportunity to put ourselves in a good position to be number two in points based on David Barton’s hard work and all the people at Ray Barton Racing Engines. They have been instrumental in improving the car and making it go faster. We’ve been to the semifinals at a lot of races, and we’ve had the opportunity to win at least one race. I think we can put ourselves in that same spot at least once before the end of the year.”
“I am super excited to run at Martin for a couple reasons. In Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, you have all three brands, Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge going heads up. Libersher and his Chevrolet COPO Camaro have done a good job of picking up and Ricky Hord won a race earlier this year in a COPO, which is awesome. The Fords have been fantastic all year. Dodge is sponsoring this race. I’m a big MOPAR fan, always have been, always will be, there’s going to be some spotlight and some opportunity to pay attention to a class like ours,” added Nash.
This will not be the first time Nash has competed at US 131 Motorsports Park and the driver who has already scored a No. 1 qualifier and runner-up finish this season to go along with several semifinal finishes is looking at previous on-track experiences as an advantage. The team will have data from previous years’ runs as well as data from his son Zach’s recent regional race held in Martin.
“Early in the factory stock showdown days, we started shaking the car down at Martin,” said Nash. “This is before the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series was contested. We’ve run there before. My son Zach runs in Stock Eliminator, and he ran the regional divisional there this year. They paved it and have made some good improvements to get ready for this weekend. I’ve had the advantage of running there before, so we have a little data.”
Beyond the on-track data Nash feels like his Underdawg race team has another advantage in the behind-the-scenes support. To make Nash’s racing dreams come true, he relies on the expertise of Barton Racing Engines as well as support from his entire family. It takes a tremendous effort to get his factory stock hot rod from track to track and then once they are in competition, to keep the operation race-ready.
“The top of our race car doesn’t say my name,” explained Nash. “It says the Nash Family. It takes a lot of time, work, effort, energy to get to the racetrack. We get a lot of help from Underdawg hospitality, which is run by my dad, Brian, and his long-time girlfriend Karen. They do everything from feeding the team, to logistics, to moving the race car back and forth. We get a lot of support from our family back home. My wife, Christina, loves racing, loves being at the track. I get a lot of help from my son along with Hunter Barnes who helps us crew on the car.”
Nash is chasing Allegrucci, from Scott Township, Pa., as he sits 214-points ahead of the driver from Hinckley, Ohio. It is a classic Dodge versus Ford, Ohio versus Pennsylvania battle but there is nothing but mutual respect between the two racers who are both chasing their first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world championships.
“Jonathan’s number one in points, but he’s also a great friend,” said Nash. “We talk to a lot of the other teams and we have raced together for years in a variety of series. Dave Davies has been great for the class and Flexjet has been an awesome sponsor. Dave was present at our first-round win in factory stock showdown a few years ago. My family came screaming down to the top end on the golf cart. It looks like one of those clown cars with people hanging off the sides. Dave gives me a big old hug, and says, ‘This right here is what it’s all about.’ In the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown class, you have a lot of good camaraderie, a lot of good families and a lot of good race cars.”
As the most recent winner and U.S. Nationals champion, Libersher will bring the $1,000 Flexjet Bounty into the MOPAR Great Lakes Nationals. Throughout this season the most recent winner has the bounty attached to their racing efforts and the first driver to defeat the bounty holder wins $1,000. To date four different drivers have won the bounty including all three of the leaders in the point standings.
Qualifying will get underway on Friday for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series with two sessions on the schedule. On Saturday one more round of qualifying will be contested and the field will be set with the first round of eliminations happening Saturday night. The Fords, Chevrolets and Dodges will have three rounds of eliminations on Sunday with one fortunate driver hoisting the 75th anniversary diamond Wally at the end of the day. For information on the Dodge Great Lakes NHRA Nationals visit www.nhra.com.
This story was originally published on September 15, 2026.
The post Raymond Nash Looking to Chase Down Points Leader Jonathan Allegrucci at Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Race in Michigan first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
