SONOMA, CA – On National Tequila Day, Alexis DeJoria took her Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car to the semifinals at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. While she was hoping to celebrate Tequila Day in wine country’s winner’s circle, DeJoria and her team are pleased with their overall performance in Sonoma and are confident a win is right around the corner.

“Our DC Motorsports Bandero/ROKiT Toyota GR Supra was very consistent throughout qualifying; it was like a bracket car,” said DeJoria of her team’s qualifying performance, which saw Del Worsham and Nicky Boninfante tune the Bandero Supra to the third-quickest pass of Friday’s lone session, and the fourth-quickest passes of Q2 and Q3.

As the No. 3 qualifier, DeJoria drew Terry Haddock as her first-round competitor on Sunday. She swiftly powered past her tire-smoking competitor by posting a 3.905 E.T. In round two, DeJoria made another solid 3.905-second pass to outrun Cruz Pedregon and set up a semifinal match with John Force. Against Force, DeJoria moved first to earn the starting line advantage and clocked her sixth-consecutive clean run, posting a 3.933 E.T., but Force came out on the winning end of a close side-by-side race with his 3.909-second time.

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Sonoma, CA – DeJoria, driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila GR Supra, is seeking her first wine country Wally trophy on Sunday, July 24, which also happens to be National Tequila Day. At three of her last six Sonoma Raceway outings, including in 2021, DeJoria has advanced to the semifinals.  Her team is ready to see a final round and a first time victory at the California facility.

“Sonoma is a great track, and I’ve had some prior success there. Haven’t gotten a win there yet but we’re very much capable of getting our first Sonoma win this weekend, and it would be especially awesome to put our Bandero Tequila Supra in the winner’s circle on National Tequila Day. I’ve been to the semifinals quite a few times there, including last year. It’ll be nice to get back to a sea-level track and I have no doubt we’re going to throw down some good numbers, and just keep cracking away at it.” explained Alexis.

2021 Sonoma Recap: Qualified second; Semifinal finish (defeated Cruz Pedregon in E1, Tim Wilkerson in E2; defeated by Matt Hagan in E3) Continue reading →

MORRISON, CO – Alexis DeJoria and the DC Motorsports team had no trouble adapting to the challenging conditions at Bandimere Speedway during the NHRA Mile-High Nationals, clocking two solid three-second passes in the heat on Saturday during qualifying to earn the No. 7 seed. DeJoria drew Tim Wilkerson as her first-round opponent. She had previously defeated Wilkerson in the first round during the Epping event last month and was looking to extend her lead on her competitor, but suffered an automatic first-round loss when she stood on the throttle early and activated the red light.

“I’m disappointed of course,” said DeJoria, who returned to Denver as the event runner-up. “We’re right there and we’re really looking to make a move in the points and crack into the top five. Our Bandero Tequila GR Supra Funny Car has been so quick and consistent. Del (Worsham), Nicky (Boninfante), and the guys have given me an incredible race car and the pressure is on. That first round, I just got too much into my own head trying to cut a good light but luckily, we’ll get right back after it in a few days. I know we’ll have something for them in Sonoma, and we’re ready to make it a long race day.”

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Morrison, CO – Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, has high hopes as she returns in 2022 for the Mile High Nationals.

“We had a great outing in Denver last year, having made it to the final round from the No. 2 qualifying position. We were very consistent throughout qualifying and on race day. It’s common knowledge that crew chiefs have a ‘Denver specific’ tune-up that they turn to every year, and it definitely makes us feel good heading into an event where we know we have a proven combination for that particular track.” explain Alexis.

DeJoria continued, “After these few weeks off, I’m looking forward to getting back after it this weekend. Personally, I don’t like the long breaks in between race weekends. Of course, sometimes it’s necessary for us to get home and recharge, but I tend to believe that the more races we have back-to-back, the better it is for me as a driver as well as for my team. We like to get into that go-go-go rhythm, and I’m looking forward to kicking off this three-race swing on a high note.”

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NORWALK, OH – Alexis DeJoria qualified the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car sixth for the NHRA Norwalk Nationals and had the advantage of lane choice over Paul Lee, her first-round challenger on race day. She took her machine straight down the groove in 3.952 seconds to advance to round two. The quarterfinals pitted the six-time Funny Car winner against Robert Hight. Against Hight, DeJoria charged hard to the finish line but her machine started to lose traction near halftrack and she slowed to a 4.651 E.T. while her opponent made a clean pass for the win in the opposite lane.

“We made three good passes in qualifying,” said DeJoria of her team’s impressive performance on Friday and Saturday. “Big thanks to the Bader family who was very accommodating in making sure the nitro classes had the opportunity to make four qualifying runs this weekend. Having that fourth run is important in helping us to gain as much run data as possible.

“Our DC Motorsports team got past the first round today for the third event in a row. We were quick off the line in round two but smoked the tires downtrack and that was the end of our day. We’re going to go home, and regroup and recharge before it’s time to head to Denver. I’m going to hit my (reaction time) simulator hard, and we’ll be ready to get back after it on the Western Swing.”

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Norwalk, OH – “Our DC Motorsports team had a good outing in Bristol last weekend. Sunday was hot and demanding, and we showed that we have a race car that can perform well in those types of conditions. It feels good knowing we have a solid hot weather tune-up. We have a good baseline to work off of and that should serve us well this weekend and at these next several races we have coming up. Last year in Norwalk we made it to the semis, so the goal is to take it one round further this weekend, and hopefully we’ll finish Sunday with our Bandero Toyota Supra in the winner’s circle.” stated DeJoria

Noteworthy: Moved up to seventh in the Funny Car standings following a semifinal finish in Bristol, and is within one point of the No. 6 position, occupied by her Toyota teammate, J.R. Todd

2021 Norwalk Recap: Qualified sixth; Semifinal finish (defeated Paul Lee in E1, Matt Hagan in E2; defeated by Cruz Pedregon in E3)

Last Event (Bristol): Qualified 12th; Semifinal finish (defeated Bob Tasca in E1, Matt Hagan in E2; defeated by Ron Capps in E3)

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BRISTOL, TN – Bristol Dragway has been good to Alexis DeJoria over the years. During her rookie season, she and crew chief Del Worsham went to their first final round together at the 2012 Thunder Valley Nationals, and after reuniting with Worsham to form DC Motorsports in 2020, the duo went on to win their first race together as driver/crew chief during the 2021 event. While the team didn’t score a repeat performance on Sunday afternoon, they successfully advanced to the semifinals, which boosted them to the No. 7 spot in the Funny Car rankings, and within one point of Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate, J.R. Todd, who occupies sixth.

After qualifying with a 4.461 E.T., the DC Motorsports team began their race day from the No. 12 position and with a first-round match-up versus Bob Tasca III. DeJoria earned the starting line advantage and a hard-fought round win after her machine started dropping cylinders and shoved her toward the retaining wall. DeJoria reeled it in and was able to save the run to earn a bid to the quarterfinals where she faced point leader and most-recent event winner, Matt Hagan. Against, Hagan, DeJoria took the Bandero Premium Tequila/ROKiT Toyota GR Supra to the stripe in 4.068-seconds to outpace her tire-smoking opponent. The semifinals pitted DeJoria versus fellow Toyota GR Supra pilot Ron Capps. DeJoria charged hard to the finish line, clocking a 4.050 E.T., but it wasn’t enough to outrun Capps’ 4.016-second pass, ending DeJoria’s day after the semifinals.

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Bristol, TN – “I’m really excited about heading back to Bristol. It’s always been one of my favorite tracks. Every round counts and we’ve had some bad luck the last few races. We’re just building right now and hoping we can come on strong. (Bristol) was my first final, so there’s just a good vibe there. I love the track, the fans there, the acoustics, and just everything about it. A lot of good things have happened at Bristol in my career, so it has a special place in my heart.” stated Dejoria, driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car.

DeJoria will join several of her Camping World Series competitors at the ‘Thunder Valley Nationals Fan Fest in the Pits’ autograph session on Saturday evening. The event will begin approx. 30 minutes post-nitro qualifying, and will be located in the pro pits

Bristol Event Highlights: 2021 event champion and No. 1 qualifier, 2012 event runner-up

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EPPING, NH – A part-time Rhode Islander with strong New England roots, Alexis DeJoria always looks forward to returning ‘home’ to New England Dragway each year. DeJoria, a six-time race winner, has visited the New England Nationals final round before (2014) and was looking to take it one step further on Sunday and capture her first win of the 2022 season.

Surrounded by local family and friends, DeJoria began her race weekend by qualifying the Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra ninth on the Funny Car ladder. She faced Tim Wilkerson in round one of eliminations on Sunday morning and took her machine on a stout 3.973-second at 324.28 mph ride to defeat her opponent’s 4.128-second effort.

The quarterfinals pitted DeJoria against another Top 10 competitor as she staged her Bandero Supra beside Robert Hight. The two championship contenders put on a great side-by-side show, but ultimately it was Hight who came out on the winning end. DeJoria gave it a good run, powering her machine to a 3.988-second pass but it wasn’t enough to outpace her opponent’s 3.933-second run.

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Epping, NH – Alexis DeJoria looking for a win with her Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car.

Epping Event Highlights: 2014 event runner-up

2021 Epping Recap: Qualified fifth; First round exit (defeated by Robert Hight in E1)

Last Event (Richmond): Qualified third; First round exit (defeated by Bob Tasca in E1)

Career Statistics: 179 races; six wins; six No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy: DeJoria has strong New England roots, having spent much of her childhood in the Narragansett, R.I. area

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