NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Since returning to NHRA competition in 2018, former Pro Stock racer turned Factory Stock competitor Mark Pawuk has been vocal about his goals for the second chapter of his drag racing career. “The Cowboy,” as he’s known to fans, has had his sights set on achieving several specific marks, among them winning the historic NHRA Gatornationals event and a Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series championship, both of which he attained during the 2024 season. 

Now, the defending Factory Stock world champion is laser-focused on another personal milestone — winning an NHRA national event at his home track. He’ll have the opportunity to do just that this weekend when the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown series returns to Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, June 27-29, for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
 
Pawuk, a native of the Buckeye State who resides in the Akron area, has been racing at the Norwalk facility since the mid-1970s. While he has had success there in the NMCA (National Muscle Car Association) Series, picking up two Norwalk wins aboard his Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, an NHRA triumph has eluded him. In addition to winning the 2024 season opener in Gainesville en route to his first NHRA title, Pawuk also clinched a victory at the St. Louis event and scored the No. 1 qualifying position in both Pomona and Reading. While his 2025 season didn’t get off on as much of a hot start as last year’s campaign, Pawuk, who is fresh off a win from the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, the most recent Factory Stock event, has been steadily gaining momentum throughout the first half of the eight-race schedule and feels confident that this could be the year he finally checks a Norwalk NHRA triumph off of his bucket list.
 
“After securing an NHRA world championship in 2024, which had been my dream for over 45 years, we started off our 2025 campaign in Gainesville a little on the slow side after winning that race last year,” said Pawuk, now a four-time NHRA Factory Stock winner after his recent Bristol victory. “Unfortunately, at this year’s Gatornationals, we had a mechanical problem and went out first round. But we quickly rebounded and were runner-up in Charlotte at the four-wides, went to the semifinals in Chicago, and now we’re going into Norwalk with a win from Bristol. That win boosted us back up to the points lead, but there’s a lot of tough competition out there. Thankfully, I know we can run with the best of them, and our recent win just reinforces what we already know, and that is, we have the right combination to put our Empaco Dodge back in the winner’s circle.
 
“That being said, this weekend won’t be without its challenges,” added Pawuk, who carries a 41-point lead over No. 2 ranked Jason Dietsch. “It’s going to be very hot in Norwalk, and we just hope the weather cooperates and we don’t get the rain that we’ve been fighting all season at the national events.”
 
Supporting Pawuk in his attempt to score a first Norwalk victory and go back-to-back with consecutive championship titles are several Ohio-based companies, including Empaco Equipment, Ohio CAT and Ohio CAT the Rental Store Division, Mr. Heater and HeatStar, Mickey Thompson Tires, Westfield Bank, Cometic Gasket, Race Winning Brands, and Summit Racing Equipment, which has supported Pawuk’s career dating back to his Pro Stock days when he won six events before making his final Pro Stock appearance at Richmond in 2006. Also supporting Pawuk’s endeavor are Red Line Oil, VP Racing Fuels, ARP, Impact, E3 Spark Plugs, and Ray Barton Racing Engines.
 
“I’m so fortunate to have so many Ohio companies supporting our team, and I hope I can represent them well at our home track this weekend,” Pawuk said. “I also want to give a special thanks to my crew, David Barton and Mike Valerio, my co-crew chiefs, my son Kyle, Frank Madonia, and all of those who support our racing operation.”
 
"The Cowboy" won’t be the only Pawuk chasing win lights and Wallys this weekend. In addition to working on his father’s Empaco Equipment Dodge, Kyle Pawuk will be pulling triple-duty throughout the event, piloting a '62 Bel Air Bubble Top in the Super Gas category along with driving AB Motorsports crew chief Brian Corradi’s car in Stock. Pawuk’s daughter, Kassandra, will also be hard at work during the Norwalk race, doing social media for several Professional teams in addition to the trio of vehicles representing the Pawuk Family Racing team.
 
Before Pawuk hits the track on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET for the first round of qualifying, he will have a busy week of appearances leading into the race weekend, starting with a car show on Tuesday evening from 4-8 p.m. at the Corradi family-owned Master Pizza in Medina. On Wednesday, June 25, he will join Summit Racing Equipment’s driver meet and greet and cruise-in at Summit’s Ohio Super Store in Tallmadge from 4-7 p.m.  
 
“Looking forward to a great weekend and seeing all the fans,” added Pawuk, who will make his seventh Norwalk appearance while competing in NHRA Factory Stock competition this weekend. “I’d like nothing more than to win at my home track — it’s been on my bucket list for many, many years. I came close last year with a runner-up finish against Stephen Bell. In my opinion, the Bader family has the finest facility in the country. I’d love to get an ice cream scoop and be with Bill and Bobbie Bader in the winner’s circle before I end my career.”
 
With two final-round appearances this year, Pawuk is seeking his 10th overall Factory Stock final. In addition to last year’s runner-up finish, prior Norwalk highlights include a semifinal finish in 2022 and a runner-up appearance during his rookie season in 2018.