The NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) wars once again heated up as the fastest Challenger Drag Paks, COPO Camaros and Cobra Jet Mustangs engaged in an epic battle at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, during last weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. With annoying rain showers, constantly changing weather conditions and a finicky starting line surface, the FSS drivers and crew chiefs had their hands full laying down that 1,500 horsepower that resides under the hoods of their production-based machines. With the class-mandated nine-inch slicks, these guys are on the razor’s edge. With some of the FSS favorites going out in round one, and the number one qualifier being eliminated before the final, it was starting to look like a Cinderella Story for longtime racer and Ohio resident Lee Hartman. Out of the 21 FSS entries at Norwalk, Hartman qualified eighth with a stout 7.82 @ 176.53. It was the baseline run Hartman needed to tune his Drag Pak and prepare it for eliminations that would take him to his first final-round FSS appearance.
With humble beginnings, Hartman has been a longtime drag racer that dabbled in street racing in his youth (like many of us). He got serious in his late teens and began racing at drag strips. Fast forward to adulthood and he’s the owner of a successful business that he works 24/7 when he’s not racing. Hartman is also a “Mopar® Guy” that owns many vintage HEMI® engine-powered Dodge and Plymouth muscle cars. When Challenger Drag Paks were released for sale in 2021, Hartman quickly jumped in and ordered one of the 50 (his Drag Pak is number 10). Not one to just stare and admire his new car in his shop, Hartman began racing the Drag Pak and learned a great deal about what the car liked and didn’t like when making it faster and more consistent. “We started out racing in NHRA’s Competition Eliminator class to get some real track data for the car. Once we compiled all the info and evaluated notes, we knew what the car needed, and we went about making those changes. These included removing weight off the nose along with doing some suspension adjustments. You’re not just racing the guys in the next lane. You’re also racing the track, scales, weather and many other factors that will impact your car’s performance. At that point, we went full-time racing in the Factory Stock Showdown,” said Hartman. With help from fellow FSS racer Greg Stanfield, Hartman’s Drag Pak is definitely heading in the right direction.
Hartman’s appreciation of old-school Mopar muscle can also be seen in the new paint scheme on his Drag Pak. Originally TorRed from the plant, Hartman wanted his car to stand out among the other Drag Paks. “My painter came up with some designs and we all agreed this was the coolest. We used 20 different colors on the new paint scheme, and we get many compliments from fans and other racers,” noted Hartman.
During the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, FSS was an all-run field as opposed to limiting it to just the top 16 qualifiers as at some races. That meant it would take five rounds of intense “dog-eat-dog” competition to declare the winner. With some FSS heavy hitters exiting early, Hartman pounced all over his competition. But despite his best effort, he came up short in the finals and lost by a mere length of a fender. But now, the other FSS competitors will be watching Hartman even closer for the remainder of the season. “It was gratifying to see the result of our hard work. The team and I will go over the car before the next race which will probably be the NMCA event at 131 Motorsports Park up in Martin, Michigan,” said Hartman. But for now, he’ll savor his first final-round appearance at Norwalk. While reflecting on this past weekend, Hartman had this to say, “They’re all great racers in Factory Stock Showdown. They’re tough and take no prisoners so you better have your gun drawn when you go up to the line!”
Here are more images of our Drag Paks and their crews in Factory Stock Showdown competition from last weekend’s Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Norwalk.
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