Jason Dietsch Clinches Delayed Gainesville Factory Stock Title

Jason Dietsch waited longer than expected to see his name in the winner’s column, but the patience paid off. This May, at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, Dietsch earned his first career FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown victory when the long-delayed Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals Factory Stock title was finally settled.

The final, postponed 70 days by severe weather in Gainesville, Florida, drew to a close during the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, making for a unique finish to the season opener.

The Ohio racer entered his 15th national event still seeking his first win. On this unusual race weekend, he made it count.

Dietsch knocked out Conner Statler and David Davies II in Florida, then returned to line up against Doug Hamp and four-time winner Lenny Lottig in Joliet.

In the final round, Dietsch faced Lottig and delivered a solid run at 7.742 seconds and 178.68 mph, a number right on target for the highly competitive Factory Stock class.

The field featured powerful machines like Dodge Drag Paks, Chevrolet COPO Camaros, and Ford Cobra Jet Mustangs, all looking for a shot at the coveted Wally trophy.

Dietsch described the wait as stressful, saying, “I just wanted to go run it and get it over with. I sat in my car worried sick, but I knew we could do it.”

This breakthrough was led by support from his crew chief Kim Mapes, his son Taylor, and his close team including longtime friend Kyle. Dietsch made sure to praise everyone involved, adding that the win meant a lot to him and all those back home.

Semifinal action saw Lenny Lottig edge out Lee Hartman thanks to an exceptional reaction time of just .003.

Lottig’s head start got him to the finish first with a 7.766-second run at 177.67 mph, even though Hartman posted a faster 7.642 at 179.96 mph.

In his own semifinal, Dietsch narrowly beat Doug Hamp, running 7.690 seconds to Hamp’s 7.798.

Both races showed how close and unpredictable Factory Stock can be when top drivers meet late in the bracket.

Throughout the weekend, Dietsch stayed focused on one round at a time. He said his main concern was getting past each opponent, not thinking too far ahead about qualifying or strategy.

With this first Factory Stock Showdown win behind him, Dietsch looked forward to racing again in the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, starting as the No. 3 qualifier and setting up a matchup with Josh Hart in round one, following a strong qualifying performance.

The NHRA schedule continues to bring big moments and close competition to fans all over the country. Dietsch’s Gainesville win, achieved after weeks of waiting and combined effort, is a clear example of the persistence and teamwork seen across NHRA’s popular classes.

As the season moves forward, racers and crews are chasing more firsts, faster times, and the next place on the podium.

Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.