NHRA’s Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown has a 10-race schedule for their fifth season of competition. The series, which features some of straight-line racing’s top drivers and teams competing for wins on this tour, features competition between Chevrolet’s COPO Camaros, Ford’s Cobra Jets and Dodge Challenger Drag Paks.
The Flexjet series has been the personal province of second generation drag racing star Aaron Stanfield, who is the reigning champion – in a Chevy COPO Camaro – after earning three of the first four titles in this class. With 11 wins in this category, including victories at both Bristol and Reading in the 2023 campaign, Stanfield’s competition includes such standout racers as Mark Pawuk, Stephen Bell, Lenny Lottig, Jesse Alexandra, Lee Hartman and Del Holbrook.
Flexjet’s continuation as the naming sponsor of the Factory Stock Showdown series includes its status as the Official Private Aviation partner of NHRA. “We are so delighted to continue our sponsorship of the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown,” remarked Robert Sullivan, Flexjet’s chief administrative officer. “Last year we added this event to our recruitment plan and met lots of great candidates in our search for aircraft mechanics and mechanic apprentices. This year,” he continued, “we look forward to meeting more candidates while also continuing to create engaging employee experiences at the races across the country.”
Flexjet’s nearly 30 years status as a leader in private aviation, using a calling card of service and award-winning safety programs, has provided its loyal and growing customer base with precise, efficient and personalized experiences on every trip. Flexjet has a strong presence at NHRA races and looks to recruit aviation technicians throughout the season at NHRA national events. Currently employing more than 4,000 personnel globally, including more than 1,300 in its global maintenance and product support division, Flexjet has nearly 1,300 pilots for its fleets.
The Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) class has enjoyed steady growth and delivered great on-track activity over its four years of existence. The 10 races scheduled this year begin with the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals of March 7-10 at Gainesville Raceway in that Florida city. Scheduling includes trips to In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip March 21-24, taking part in the 24rh annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (April 12-14), a return to Route 66 Raceway outside Chicago the weekend of May 17-19 and taking part once again in the 23rd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Route 66 Raceway.
The second half of the FSS season includes a trip to Norwalk, Ohio for the 18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals (June 27-30) before a break in the action until August 15-18, when Factory Stock Showdown races at Brainerd International Raceway. Two weeks later, the series joins most every other NHRA drag racer for the 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park over the Labor Day weekend, followed by a Sept. 12-15 trip to Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, PA. The season finale is set to take place at World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis, the weekend of Sept. 27-29.
In addition to its qualifying and elimination activities, the popular Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown Bounty program continues in 2024. Started in the 2021 season, this program puts a “bounty” on the winner of the previous event.
“We’re thrilled to have Flexjet continue as the sponsor of our NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category, and as Official Private Aviation partner of the NHRA,” noted Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president and chief development officer. “After another great year of racing, Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown continues to establish itself as one of the most exciting classes in NHRA. The class,” he said, “continues to grow, and with another 10-race schedule in store for 2024, we’re looking forward to a great season at stops across the country.”
2024 FLEXJET NHRA FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN SCHEDULE
- March 7-10: 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fl.
- March 21-24: 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Pomona, Calif.
- April 12-14: 24th annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
- May 17-19: 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance, Route 66 Raceway, Chicago
- June 7-9: 23rd annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
- June 27-30: 18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
- Aug. 15-18: 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.
- Aug. 28-Sept. 2: 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis
- Sept. 12-15: 39th annual Pep Boys NHRA Nationals, Maple Grove Raceway, Reading, Pa.
- Sept. 27-29: 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis
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