Stephen Bell wins Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown at Summit Motorsports Park

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Stephen Bell wins Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown at Summit Motorsports Park

NORWALK, Ohio (June 25, 2023) – Stephen Bell and his Stanfield Racing Engines Chevrolet COPO Camaro picked up their first victory of the season Sunday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park. Bell earned his fourth career victory against Lee Hartman in the final round. Bell would be second to leave the starting line but take the lead immediately and he would never trail on a 7.783-second pass at 177.74 mph to Hartman’s 7.809 at 175.32 mph run.

Norwalk Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown winner Stephen Bell poses with NHRA Wally and commemorative Norwalk Ice Cream Scoop, photo courtesy of Innovative Creation Experts

“This means everything to me. As a child, I wanted to race cars. My family supported me, love my wife, I love my family and we’ve been blessed with a lot of success to be able to come out and do things like this, to race with the Stanfield family. I get to be the monkey in the seat that does a pretty good job and then wins one of these things. It’s like Christmas Day. I’m just the happiest guy in the world,” Bell said. “Lee Hartman, he’s a gentleman, he’s a friend and he’s got a fast race car. There was no room for error on our end. We just stayed levelheaded. We knew we had a fast race car and we just had to find out if we could keep it going. This team worked hard to make that happen.” Before reaching the finals, Bell, who is now second in the championship points standings, had to face points leader and most recent event winner Aaron Stanfield and his COPO in the semifinals. With the $1,000 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown bounty on the line, Bell would run a 7.758-second pass at 178.14 mph beating Stanfield’s 7.790 at 174.62. “When you race someone as tough as Aaron you know you have to be at the top of your game,” said Bell. “You add on the fact that there was the $1,000 Flexjet bounty on the line I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy win. There are no easy wins out here. I love the bounty program and I am looking forward to holding onto that bounty title for a lot of races and watching that bounty number go up.” En route to the semifinals, Bell ran a 7.761 at 177.07 mph to take down David Davies and his Save Our Allies Dodge Drag Pak’s 7.821 at 176.40, then put up a 7.739 at 177.21 mph to send Ricky Hord and his COPO Camaro’s 7.875 at 172.76 home. In the quarterfinals, Bell matched with Jesse Alexandra and his Camaro for a tight side-by-side drag race. Bell would take the win with a 7.801-second pass at 177.63 mph to Alexandra’s 7.803 at 176.47. The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown series will continue its season at the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, August 31-September 4. Flexjet Bounty Program Gatornationals (Gainesville, FL) $1,000 bounty collected by Joe Welch, defeated Aaron Stanfield, Dallas winner Four-Wide Nationals (Charlotte, N.C.) $1,000 bounty collected by Lenny Lottig, defeated Joe Welch, Gainesville winner Route 66 Nationals (Chicago) Bounty not collected Thunder Valley Nationals (Bristol) $2,000 bounty collected by Lee Hartman, defeated Lenny Lottig, Charlotte and Chicago winner Summit Racing Equipment Nationals (Norwalk, Ohio) $1,000 bounty collected by Stephen Bell, defeated Aaron Stanfield, Bristol winner 2023 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results Gainesville – Joe Welch, winner; Aaron Stanfield, runner-up Charlotte – Lenny Lottig, winner; Aaron Stanfield, runner-up Chicago – Lenny Lottig, winner; Doug Hamp, runner-up Bristol – Aaron Stanfield, winner; Del Holbrook, runner-up Norwalk – Stephen Bell, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Top Ten Points Standings: 1. Aaron Stanfield 496 2. Stephen Bell 386 3. Lenny Lottig 357 4. Mark Pawuk 311 5. Joseph Welch 297 6. Doug Hamp 286 7. Del Holbrook 282 7. Jesse Alexandra 282 9. Lee Hartman 281 10. David Davies III 278 About Flexjet If maintaining performance vehicles is your passion – translate those skills into becoming a Flexjet aircraft maintenance technician (AMT). Explore a career with the world-class Flexjet Maintenance group today. Flexjet, Inc., a global leader in subscription-based private aviation, first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing and is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 24 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, a 4AIR Bronze Sustainable Rating and is IS-BAO compliant at Level 2. Red Label by Flexjet, a market differentiator, which features the most modern fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are more than 40 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Embraer Phenom 300 and Praetor 500, Bombardier Challenger 350, the Gulfstream G450 and G650. Flexjet’s European fleet includes the Embraer Praetor 600 and the Gulfstream G650. Flexjet’s helicopter division sells fractional, lease, and on-demand charter access to its fleet of owned, operated and maintained Sikorsky S-76 helicopters which boast 55,000 hours of safe flying certified by Wyvern and ARG/US and serving locations throughout the northeastern United States, United Kingdom, and southern Florida. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Instagram @FlexjetInc.

Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Season Comes to Halfway

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Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Season Comes to Halfway

Point in Norwalk, Ohio

NORWALK, Ohio (June 21, 2023) – Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class heads to Summit Motorsports Park for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, the fifth of 10 events on the 2023 schedule, with competitors like Ohio native Mark Pawuk, ready to make a splash. It will take a strong effort from the veteran driver with over 22 racecars entered every driver will have a shot at the title in the all-run field. Pawuk, who is a second-generation racer and former NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Pro Stock driver, started his own race team ahead of the 2023 season. Pawuk Family Racing will have two entries in Norwalk, Ohio with his son Kyle competing as well.

Mark Pawuk and Empaco Dodge Drag Pak, photo by Innovative Creation Experts

“I’m real pleased with the season so far. Over the winter I started Pawuk Family Racing with my son and daughter. My son is going to be racing this weekend in Norwalk too and my daughter Kassandra handles all our social media along with a bunch of other professional teams,” Pawuk said. “I bought the car in the winter from Don Schumacher and switched engine builders over to Ray Barton and David has been tuning our car. He’s done a really good job. We’ve come a long way from the beginning of the season. We struggled a little bit, but we’ve stepped up our performance in the past couple races.” Pawuk, who drives the Empaco Equipment Dodge Challenger Drag Pak is currently fifth in the points standings after qualifying third at the most recent event at Bristol Dragway’s NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals where he had a quarterfinal exit. Pawuk’s connection to Summit Motorsport Park goes back decades. “I never got to race professionally at Summit Motorsports Park, we were racing at Columbus when I got out of the seat of the Pro Stock car, but I grew up going there, raced there in the 70s, Summit Motorsports Park was the place to go. My dad and I were close with Bill Bader and the Bader family,” Pawuk said. “I’d love nothing more than to get a victory there in front of friends and family, all those great Ohio fans and for our local sponsors: Ohio Cat Rental Stores, Mr. Heater / Heatstar, Summit Racing Equipment, Cometic Gaskets and our long-time supporters, Goodyear / Mickey Thompson, Redline Oil, E3 Spark Plugs, VP Racing Fuels. Looking forward to the weekend.” Hoping to stave off Pawuk’s first victory of the season is current points leader Aaron Stanfield and his Stanfield Racing Engines Chevrolet COPO Camaro. Stanfield is coming off a victory at Bristol Dragway, the first of the season and 10th of his career. “Getting that win in Bristol was big,” said Stanfield, a two-time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world champion. “We have been working really hard to get back into the winner’s circle. Now we have the bounty and some momentum going into Norwalk. We want to keep the points lead and maybe stretch it out a little bit. The competition will be tough with over 20 racecars on the property. Everyone is going to have to be at the top of their game.”

Aaron Stanfield, Thunder Valley Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown winner, photo courtesy Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

With Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Bounty Program in play for its second season, Stanfield will have a target on his back for more than just the points lead this weekend. As the most recent winner he also has a $1,000 bounty on his head that will be collected by the first competitor to knock him out of eliminations. Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown competition at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park begins with qualifying sessions Friday at 3:15 and 6:30 p.m. Eliminations begin Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.. Sunday will wrap up competition with the quarterfinals at 1:15 p.m., semifinals at 2:30 p.m. and finals at 3:25 p.m. ET. About Flexjet If maintaining performance vehicles is your passion – translate those skills into becoming a Flexjet aircraft maintenance technician (AMT). Explore a career with the world-class Flexjet Maintenance group today. Flexjet, Inc., a global leader in subscription-based private aviation, first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing and is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 24 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, a 4AIR Bronze Sustainable Rating and is IS-BAO compliant at Level 2. Red Label by Flexjet, a market differentiator, which features the most modern fleet in the industry, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are more than 40 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Embraer Phenom 300 and Praetor 500, Bombardier Challenger 350, the Gulfstream G450 and G650. Flexjet’s European fleet includes the Embraer Praetor 600 and the Gulfstream G650. Flexjet’s helicopter division sells fractional, lease, and on-demand charter access to its fleet of owned, operated and maintained Sikorsky S-76 helicopters which boast 55,000 hours of safe flying certified by Wyvern and ARG/US and serving locations throughout the northeastern United States, United Kingdom, and southern Florida. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on innovative programs and flexible offerings, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Instagram @FlexjetInc.

JUSTIN ASHLEY LOOKING TO KEEP STRONG RUN

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JUSTIN ASHLEY LOOKING TO KEEP STRONG RUN GOING IN NORWALK

PLAINVIEW, NY (June 20, 2023) --- Two weeks ago Justin Ashley turned on every win light available to the third-year pro winning the rescheduled NHRA New England Nationals, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals over a three day stretch at Bristol Dragway. For the second time this season Ashley defended his 2022 victory at a national event going back-to-back in Bristol just like he did earlier this season at the historic NHRA Winternationals. This weekend at the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, June 23-25, Ashley and his Maynard Ashley Racing Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster powered by Okuma will be looking to make it three national event wins in a row.

Justin Ashley with New England Nationals and Thunder Valley Nationals Wallys, photo by gary Nastase. Auto Imagery

“We approach each race with a renewed mindset,” said Ashley, who will also be competing in his fourth Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. “Our Phillips Connect Toyota Racing team accomplished something very special in Bristol. It was important for us to reflect, appreciate and value those victories. But our focus and attention has now shifted to Norwalk. The competition is going to be tough and many teams are hitting their stride. We’re excited for the challenge.” Summit Motorsports Park, recognized as “America’s Racetrack,” is a fan friendly facility that Ashley would like to build a winning legacy. The past two seasons he has qualified well, starting in the top half twice, but his race days have not been extended efforts. “Norwalk is an amazing facility and the Bader family does a tremendous job promoting NHRA and their national event,” said Ashley, the 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year. “The stands are always packed with fans eager to watch racing. The full fields will make for an excellent show and varying conditions could create unpredictably. Our Phillips Connect team will be ready.”

Justin Ashley and Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster, photo by Gary Nastase/Auto Imagery

This season Ashley has won more races already than any previous campaign for the second-generation driver. His four wins have come in his four final round appearances. It has been feast or famine for Ashley since he also have three first round losses and a quarterfinal finish over eight races. The up and down nature of the sport has not phased Ashley how keeps and even keel when he reflects on his season’s progress. “You look at the competition we are facing every weekend and there are no easy rounds,” said Ashley, who leads the category in reaction time average. “In Bristol there were multi-time Top Fuel champions going into race day deep in the bottom half of the field. That could just as easily be our team any weekend because the margins of success versus failure are so thin out here. Qualifying positions and races are being set by one or two hundredths of a second or even a few thousandths of a second. Every round is a battle.” Ashley and his newly formed team Maynard Ashley Racing are building a program that will keep the nine-time Top Fuel winner at the top of the category. This weekend Ashley will be recognizing Okuma on his 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragster along with long-time sponsors KATO Fastening Systems, Strutmasters.com, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools and Toyota. The list of supporters that keep Ashley powering towards win lights continues to grow and the goal of Maynard Ashley Racing is to make sure all the marketing partners get maximum return on and off the track. “Maynard Ashley Racing is focused on growth, stability, and bringing world-class results to our marketing partners both on and off the racetrack,” said Ashley. “You will start seeing more business-to-business elements coming together as the season progresses and Okuma is a great example of that. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Okuma and I can’t say how excited I am to be working with the Joe, Cathi, Joe C. Maynard, and Eric Lehman.” This weekend Ashley and the Phillips Connect Toyota Top Fuel dragster powered by Okuma will get four qualifying passes leading up to eliminations on Sunday. In addition to two runs on Friday and Saturday Ashley will be racing for his fourth Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge title which would put another $10,000 and three championships in his pocket. The addition of this specialty program has Ashley and his team thrilled to head into the countdown. “I love the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge,” said Ashley. “Of course, winning additional prize money is great but collecting championship points is critical. These points could prove to be the difference in seeding once the countdown begins. We want to keep stacking up round wins and championship points.” Qualifying will begin on Friday, June 23, at 5:30 p.m. ET with final eliminations on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. ET. The race will be broadcast nationally on Sunday, June 25, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET on FOX. About Maynard Ashley Racing Maynard Ashley Racing (MAR) was founded in 2023 with the express goal of delivering world class results, on and off the racetrack, for a growing community of marketing partners and fans drawn to Justin Ashley, the 2020 NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year and seven-time Top Fuel national event winner. Behind Maynard Ashley Racing is a partnership between JCM Racing, led by Joe E. and Cathi Maynard, Joe C. Maynard, and Eric and Kim Lehman, who have taken the NHRA by storm over the last year, and Max Out Motorsports a partnership between Justin Ashley, Dustin Davis and Jim Epler.