Fans of factory-built muscle are in for a treat next season. The NHRA just announced an expanded nine-race schedule for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown in 2026. The popular factory hot rod class, which pits Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Ford Cobra Jets, and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks against each other, will see its championship battle extend to a new finale in Texas.
The class is coming off a highly competitive 2025 season where veteran Mark Pawuk secured his second consecutive world championship in his Empaco Dodge Challenger. Pawuk, who won in Norwalk and Bristol, had to fight off a serious challenge from Jason and Taylor Dietsch, who won a combined four races. That intense competition, combined with the return of the popular Flexjet Bounty Program (which puts a target on the previous event’s winner), has only increased the class’s popularity.
The 2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown season kicks off in classic fashion at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, from March 5-8. From there, the tour moves to the unique four-wide race in Charlotte (April 24-26), followed by stops at Chicago’s Route 66 Raceway in May and Bristol Dragway in June. The first half of the season wraps up at the fan-favorite Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, on June 25-28.
Following a summer break, the factory warriors return to action at the most prestigious race of all: the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. The push for the championship will then run through Maple Grove Raceway in September and World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis in early October. The newly added ninth race will serve as the 2026 season finale. The championship will be decided at the Texas Motorplex, October 14-18, during the massive Stampede of Speed event.
Adding a ninth race and concluding the season at the high-stakes Texas FallNationals is a significant move for the category. With two-time champ Mark Pawuk looking to defend his title against an increasingly quick field, the 2026 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown is shaping up to be the most exciting and challenging season yet.
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
- 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. 17-20: 41st annual NHRA Reading Nationals, Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.
- Oct. 2-4: 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
- Oct. 14-18: 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, Texas Motorplex, Dallas
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