Drag Racing Featured — 04 June 2012


Alexis DeJoria, Quickest Rookie Funny Car Driver

Boca Raton, FL (June 3, 2012)— At the 43rd Annual Toyota NHRA Supernationals, the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patron Toyota Camry Funny Car team ran their best numbers yet, achieving their season-long goal of breaking into the 4.0-seconds elapsed time bracket.

Proving that she is a powerful force to be reckoned with, Alexis DeJoria, driver of the high-speed Tequila Patron Toyota Camry, currently holds the quickest elapsed time of all Funny Car Rookie of the Year candidates this season, with her 4.040-sec at 313.66-mph run, accomplished in round two of qualifying on Friday night. “We’ve been trying to break into the 4.0’s [seconds] all season long. We’ve got a fast car, we’re making the horsepower; it was just a matter of getting it to stick, and this weekend we were able to do that and achieve our goal.”

With ideal weather conditions and near-perfect track surface, Team Patron knew that Friday night was their opportunity to show everyone that the black-and-green-machine was capable of running competitive numbers. Of her career best run DeJoria said, “If we were going to run a 4.0, it would happen that night. The run was super straight and felt really awesome. At first, I had no idea just how good our numbers were. It was just such a nice, smooth, easy run, that it didn’t ‘feel’ that fast.  I knew it was a good run, but didn’t initially realize it was a 4.040- so close to a 4.03! When they told me the numbers over the radio, I just lost it- I was so excited!

After four excellent qualifying runs and the ability to maintain the number six qualifying position all weekend long out of twenty cars, Team Patron was feeling confident going into Sunday’s eliminations against the number eleven qualifier and fifteen-time world champion, seasoned veteran John Force. The two fan-favorites have squared off twice before, with Force winning in Pomona and DeJoria winning in Gainesville, unofficially pitting them ‘one-to-one’ going into this latest matchup.  DeJoria had a good light and both cars were neck-and-neck off the line.  DeJoria began to pull ahead only to have the number seven piston break at 2.1-secs into her run, causing severe engine damage and a small oil fire which after a hasty exit out of her escape hatch, Alexis quickly extinguished.

Crew chief Del Worsham and the entire Patron team were surprised with the brand new piston issue as they enjoyed their most consistent car throughout qualifying. “We’re still not real sure what happened today,” said Jim Oberhofer, VP of Kalitta Motorsports. “The car was flawless all weekend, it didn’t hurt any parts, and then first round something happened with one of the pistons, and it started getting some pressure on the second half of the run. We’re still looking at all the parts and pieces to try and figure out why this happened.”

“Today was a bit of a letdown because we were feeling so good going into the first round. We had four solid qualifying runs, our car was consistent and the vibe was just good all around. Everyone was in good spirits and we really felt like we were going to clinch this one,” said the strong-willed driver. “The car was quick off the line and we were really truckin’!  If all had gone according to plan, we probably would’ve taken the win that round. We really need to go some rounds on raceday, so it was a shame that we were out early on.”

“The good news is, the car ran well all weekend long, and that 4.04 from Friday just proved to everyone that we’re competitive and capable of running with the best of them. It was great to be able to celebrate that accomplishment with fans and friends, and represent Toyota and Tequila Patron at a track that has a lot of personal meaning and history to me.”

 

About Alexis DeJoria

Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and proud owner of Tequila Patron, is a professional NHRA racecar driver, competing in the Nitro Funny Car class on the Kalitta Motorsports team. She is their second Nitro Funny Car driver and fourth member of the team. Alexis drives a Tequila Patron-sponsored 2012 Toyota Camry.

Alexis had a successful career in the Top Alcohol Funny Car category where she co-owned and operated her team, and was one of the few females ever to do so. She left the TAFC category holding the title of Top Female Top Alcohol Funny Car Racer and 2011 NHRA Northwest Nationals TAFC event champion. Alexis made racing history when she competed in the first ever ‘woman vs. woman’ race in her class in 2010, and she is the 2nd woman ever to win a TAFC race. She is currently the female world record holder for the fastest and quickest TAFC speeds. Alexis is also well known for her infamous 2009 Englishtown, NJ crash.

Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about following her passion. She is proud to encourage and inspire young women to go after their dreams. Alexis’ need for adrenaline drove her to pursue the unlikely profession of auto-racing. The determination to ‘blaze her own trail’ continues to drive her and push her to higher levels in the dangerous, male dominated sport of drag racing.


About Kalitta Motorsports

Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.


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