Winning a Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown event is a great experience. But winning in honor of a friend’s memory is priceless. 

Pawuk has won at the highest levels, capturing six national event victories during his days in the Pro Stock division. He’s also won in the Factory Stock Showdown arena and similar classes, but this time was different.

Pawuk won last Sunday’s NHRA Gatornationals behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger cloaked in a scheme honoring his longtime friend Don Schumacher, who passed away following a brave battle with cancer. 

“Don and I were very close, and I reached out to his stepdaughter Megan and asked if I could do a car in his memory,” said an emotional Pawuk in the staging lanes after his win. “We are going to celebrate him at a couple races and it’s just so cool. I’ve always wanted to win the Gatornationals. This has always been one of my favorite races, and to do it with my wife and daughter here and all the people helping me. Unfortunately, Kyle, my son, had to leave to get a flight home, so he left right before the semis. It was not the same without him on the starting line. I’m glad I could do this for Don every round.”

Pawuk, driving his Empaco Dodge Drag Pak, drove his way from the No. 3 starting spot to the final round, where he defeated Stephen Bell to secure the win and the Flexjet $1,000 bounty.

Pawuk credits former mega fuel team owner Schumacher with providing the impetus for him to race competitively. Fielding a Factory Stock Showdown team was definitely outside of Schumacher’s norm. 

Schumacher talked Pawuk into returning to drag racing after he had been away since 2006. He initially joined as a teammate to former DSR driver Leah Pruett.

“Don and I go way back, and we’ve been talking about this for a little while now, and it sounded intriguing,” Pawuk said in a 2018 interview. “I wasn’t quite ready to hang up my driving shoes for good just yet, and I felt like I had some unfinished business, so this was a great opportunity to give it another shot.”

Years later, business was getting dealt with on the Gainesville Raceway drag strip. 

Pawuk had to take on a gaggle of Chevrolet COPO Camaro competitors every round except for a bye run in the semifinals. Throughout the day, Pawuk was in a zone at the starting line and with the gearshift in his hand.

Pawuk acknowledged the parity among the different car brands in the competition, emphasizing the competitive balance that has been achieved in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series.   

“I drove good all day,” Pawuk said. “I was a tad late in the final. Look at the parity between the three classes. You had cars running 7.79 and a couple 7.80s. so all three brands, Dodge, Ford, and Chevy, all ran right together. I think they did a great job of standardizing everything and getting us all so we can be competitive again. I really want to thank all my sponsors. I want to thank Ohio CAT and CAT Reynolds storage, and Mr. Heater, Heat Star, and Summit, who came back on my car with Red Line Oil, Dodge, and all my associates like VP Fuel, Mickey Thompson, and the group at Diamond Pistons.”
 
In the final Pawuk met up with Bell, who carried the Flexjet Bounty as well as the title of series runner-up in 2023. Pawuk was first off the line and Bell spun the tires allowing Pawuk to get a sizeable lead which he took the winner’s circle.

Heading to the NHRA Winternationals next weekend, Pawuk will be the points leader and carry the $1,000 bounty. The veteran driver was excited about the possibility of heading to the second national event of the year.