CLEVELAND, OH (February 18, 2026) — Flexjet, a global leader in private aviation, will continue as the title sponsor of the exciting NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class, which will make nine appearances at NHRA national events during the upcoming 2026 season. Two-time world champion Mark Pawuk will be looking to make it three championships in a row when the series kicks off at the historic Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. Competitors from across the country will be battling it out on the track in Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet factory hot rods.
Mark Pawuk captured his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Series world championship in St. Louis , photo credit Auto Imagery
Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown sets nine-race schedule for 2026 season, Mark Pawuk Looking for Three-Peat
CLEVELAND, OH (February 18, 2026) — Flexjet, a global leader in private aviation, will continue as the title sponsor of the exciting NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class, which will make nine appearances at NHRA national events during the upcoming 2026 season. Two-time world champion Mark Pawuk will be looking to make it three championships in a row when the series kicks off at the historic Gatornationals, March 5-8, 2026. Competitors from across the country will be battling it out on the track in Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet factory hot rods.
Mark Pawuk captured his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Series world championship in St. Louis , photo credit Auto Imagery
The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will add an extra race for 2026 and will begin its season at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., on March 5-8 before heading to Charlotte, N.C. for the four-wide race on April 24-26. From there, the class will race at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago on May 14-17, followed by races at picturesque Bristol Dragway on June 12-14 and then fan-favorite Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 25-28.
The category will take a summer break following the Norwalk race, returning to action as part of the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals on Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown class will stay busy to close out the season, racing at US 131 Motorsports Park on Sept. 18-20 and then at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis on Oct. 2-4.
The added ninth race will also serve as the finale, as the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown will close out the 2026 season at Texas Motorplex on Oct. 14-18 as part of the track’s massive Stampede of Speed and Texas NHRA Fall Nationals.
The Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category has provided thrilling action for several years, with some of drag racing’s top drivers competing for the prestigious Wally behind the wheel of Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Cobra Jets and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks. In 2025, Pawuk clinched his second straight championship on the strength of event wins in Norwalk and Bristol. He was also the runner-up in Charlotte, holding off a strong charge from Jason and Taylor Dietsch, who won a combined four races.
The popular Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Bounty Program will also return in 2026. Established during the 2021 season, the program puts a “bounty” on the winner of the previous event.
2026 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE
March 5-8: 57th annual NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.
April 24-26: 16th annual NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, N.C.
May 14-17: 26th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance, Route 66 Raceway, Chicago
June 12-14: 25th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
June 25-28: 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
Sept. 2-7: 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis
Sept. 18-20: Inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals, US 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Mich.
Oct. 2-4: 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
Oct. 14-18: 41st annual Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, Texas Motorplex, Dallas
