© Jeff Riedel/Contour by Getty Images

Topanga Canyon, CA (February 20, 2012)— Coming off a solid last run at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA, where Kalitta Motorsports driver Alexis DeJoria gave seasoned veteran John Force a real run for his money, the Tequila Patr?n Toyota Camry Funny Car team had high expectations going into the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Phoenix, AZ this past weekend.

Unfortunately, mechanical issues plagued the Kalitta Motorsports Funny Car team all weekend long. From damaged pistons to dropped cylinders to clutch issues, it seemed as if it was a case of just plain bad luck for Team Patr?n.

During the first qualifying attempt, DeJoria smoked the tires and had to shut the car off, not making it into the Top Twelve. Things were looking up during the second round. She ran a nice, smooth 4.226-sec at 291.82-mph pass, which initially was enough to put her in the field, but by the end of the round, Team Patr?n was bumped out by fellow Kalitta Motorsports teammate Jeff Arend.

Although they went into Day Two with nothing on the board, the team was hoping to start fresh on a positive note. In the third qualifying round, DeJoria was in the left lane, which had been tricky for several drivers over the course of the weekend. She started off on a good run, but the tires started to spin at the top end, and the car dropped two cylinders on one side. The combination of the two sent the Toyota Camry into the wall, DeJoria’s first wall brush in a Fuel Funny Car. Thanks to her quick reaction, DeJoria was able to get the car under control and off the track with only minimal body damage.

Up at the line on the fourth qualifying run and the team’s final attempt to make it into the field, a piston was damaged during the burnout. Despite the fact that they were now not able to run on all eight cylinders, DeJoria had a nice run, with an elapsed time of 4.296-sec at 286.62-mph. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to make the show, as ‘the bump’ was a 4.25 (sec), and their handicap of running on one less cylinder wasn’t enough to put them over.

Team Patr?n has three weeks to come together and figure out what the issues are with the car. The team did not have plans to test until after the Gatornationals next month, but because of the frustrations from this weekend, the decision was made to stay in Phoenix and spend the entire day Monday testing. Crew chief Del Worsham will go through the car- front to back- and test until they find the solution.

While the team is understandably disappointed with how the weekend played out, they’re not letting it bring them down.  “This is only the second race in. We’re still a new team and we just need to work the gremlins out. Once we figure out what the problems are, I have no doubt we will come out on top in Gainesville,” said DeJoria. “Obviously, I’m not okay with the fact that we didn’t qualify, but I’m not going to harp on that too much. Instead, I’m just looking forward to getting back on track and doing the best we can at these next twenty-one races.”

Alexis DeJoria and the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patr?n Toyota Camry Funny Car team will compete next at the 43^rd Annual Tire Kingdom NHRA Gatornationals presented by NapaFilters.com, March 9^th-11^th at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL.  

About Alexis DeJoria

Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and proud owner of Tequila Patr?n, is a professional NHRA race car 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 Patr?n-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 2^nd 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.

Media Contact info:

Alexis DeJoria and members of the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patr?n Funny Car team are available for interview. Please contact Allison McCormick at (305) 764-5377 orallison@alexisdejoria.com