The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series wrapped up its 2025 season with a Chevrolet-on-Chevrolet clash at the NHRA Midwest Nationals. In the end, No. 9 qualifier Ricky Hord powered his Maximum Effort VI COPO Camaro to victory over No. 6 qualifier Scott Libersher, taking the final Wally of the season at World Wide Technology Raceway.
“This was a hard-fought race,” Hord said. “We didn’t get in until the last round of qualifying and ended up ninth. Getting this win is unbelievable, especially considering we’ve only managed to make it out to three races this year. That made it even more special.”
Hord’s route to the winner’s circle was filled with drama. In round one, his .026 reaction time gave him just enough of a cushion to hold off Lenny Lottig in a holeshot win, with Hord’s 7.762 beating Lottig’s quicker 7.758.
“The first round went our way, and then I beat Mark [Pawuk] in the second round by a thousandth of a second,” Hord said. “That was a crazy race. I had a triple-zero reaction time in the semis. In the final I saw him red light, and I looked completely away from the tree and had a terrible reaction time. I got the win and that was awesome.”
On Sunday, Hord returned to eliminate newly crowned world champion Mark Pawuk in a razor-thin matchup. Both drivers cut identical .031 lights, but Hord’s 7.688 edged Pawuk’s 7.689 in the Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak by just one-thousandth.
In the semifinals, Hord was flawless on the tree with a perfect .000 light, while Alex Anderson went red with a -.006. Hord still laid down a solid 7.766 at 173.47 mph to advance. In the final against Libersher, it was another red-light that decided the outcome, with Libersher leaving too soon. Hord cruised to his first NHRA Midwest Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown victory and the second national event title of his career. His first came at the 2024 Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals.
“I’ve always had fun in this class,” Hord said. “It’s such a great class because it’s stock-related. The cars are recognizable, and they’re so fast for what they are. We’re racing on nine-inch-wide tires, with 1,600 horsepower. It’s insane what they can do. I really hope the fans can look at the cars and see a street car. This is an awesome class and thanks to Flexjet.”
For Libersher, the runner-up still came with a highlight — a $2,000 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown bounty bonus. He knocked out Taylor Dietsch in round two to end Dietsch’s two-race winning streak, pocketing the bonus and securing his place in the top five of the final points standings.
The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series will return in 2026, with the full schedule to be announced later this year.
This story was originally published on September 28, 2025. 
