READING, PA – NHRA Countdown to the Championship-challenger Alexis DeJoria advanced into the quarterfinals on race day at the NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish. Coming off a strong semifinal finish at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, DeJoria and her first-year JCM Racing Funny Car team continued to impress at the first of six playoff races. While she had hoped for a longer Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway, DeJoria has nothing but confidence as she and the team prepare for the upcoming NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals next weekend.

Aboard the Bandero Café Funny Car, DeJoria opened qualifying with a 4.007 effort on Friday afternoon before powering to a 3.948 E.T. at 329.36 mph in the second round to place her in the provisional No. 10 spot after day one. DeJoria encountered traction issues in the third session, but closed out qualifying with a 3.983-second pass.

Starting from 10th, DeJoria faced No. 7 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson in round one of eliminations. DeJoria moved first and powered to a 3.955 E.T. versus Wilkerson’s 3.953-second effort to score the holeshot win and advance into round two, where she faced Paul Lee. Crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith tuned the Bandero Café machine to another stout pass of 3.958 seconds, which held up to be the quickest run of the quarterfinals, but this time it was DeJoria’s opponent who came out on top thanks to his quicker reaction time, ending her day sooner than she had hoped. Continue reading →

Mohnton, PA – The first-year JCM Racing Bandero Café Funny Car team starts the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship from the No. 8 position following a strong showing in Indianapolis where DeJoria advanced to her fifth semifinal finish of the year.

DeJoria has eight prior playoff appearances with her best finish coming from the 2021 season where she placed sixth.  She will compete in her 250th Funny Car event this weekend.

“We had a strong showing in Indy; the car ran great, we made it to the semifinals, gained some good points, and solidified our spot in the top 10, and for that, I’m very proud. We didn’t just make it into the Countdown based on our participation; we earned our way in based on merit. We’re starting from the No. 8 spot and there’s something to be said for that considering there are 14 Funny Cars competing in this year’s playoffs,” stated Alexis.

“Our Bandero Café team has worked incredibly hard to get where we’re at. We’ve really bonded over these first 14 races and I’m excited to see what the future holds. Heading into these last few months of the season, I have a very positive attitude and a great mental outlook.” Continue reading →

INDIANAPOLIS – Building on a solid outing at Brainerd, Alexis DeJoria charged to a semifinal finish at the NHRA U.S. Nationals behind the wheel of her Bandero Café Funny Car Monday afternoon at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The 2014 U.S. Nationals winner earned bonus points in qualifying with class-leading performances, qualified No. 4 in a loaded Funny Car field, and turned on win lights on race day at the biggest race of the year. The overall weekend performance sent DeJoria’s confidence soaring as she prepares to represent JCM Racing in the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

In the first of five qualifying sessions, DeJoria rocketed to a 3.891-second blast at 329.02 mph to take the provisional No. 3 position on Friday evening. She made the quickest pass of the second session on Saturday, a 3.929 E.T. at 330.88 mph, to earn four bonus points. She hazed the tires in the third session, but ended Saturday still in the No. 3 spot. DeJoria lost traction again in the fourth session before capping off qualifying with a 3.948 E.T. at 329.18 mph, the second-quickest pass of the fifth session, to take another three bonus points.

Racing out of the No. 4 position, DeJoria faced second-generation racer Bobby Bode in the first round of eliminations on Monday morning. Tuned by crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith, DeJoria charged to a 3.901-second pass at 333.16 mph to get the win over a tire-smoking Bode. In a battle between two of the closest matched cars in qualifying, DeJoria left the line ahead of No. 5 qualifier Matt Hagan and led wire-to-wire with a 3.935 E.T. at 331.85 mph. Making her fifth semifinal appearance of the season, DeJoria lined up against No. 1 qualifier Jack Beckman, and while the Bandero Café Funny Car launched hard, it went into tire smoke around the 330-foot mark. Continue reading →

Indianapolis – Winner of the 60th anniversary 2014 U.S. Nationals, Alexia understands what it takes to take home the Wally.  She begins the weekend ranked ninth in the Funny Car standings and will look to improve upon or maintain her position at the unique points-and-a-half race, the final event of NHRA’s regular season.

“We ran our best numbers in Brainerd, getting down into the 80s on race day. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test between last race and now due to being rained out. It seems like all our scheduled test sessions have ended up being canceled for one reason or another lately but even though we haven’t been able to get those extra runs in, what we’ve been doing during the race weekends shows that we’re on the right track, and Brainerd was proof of that.

“We’re starting the weekend in ninth. The points are very tight. Just over 100 points separate the seventh from the No. 12 ranked drivers so there is definitely room to improve our standing, but on the flipside, we definitely don’t want to lose any ground either, so it’s imperative that we start qualifying well right out of the gate and get ourselves positioned to go rounds and make the most of the points-and-a-half scenario on race day. We’ve had four semifinal finishes this year and I believe we’re right there on the cusp. Mike Neff and Todd Smith know how to win, I know how to win; I’ve been in the Indy winner’s circle before and there’d be nothing better than to find our way back there this weekend.” Continue reading →

BRAINERD, MN – At the facility where she powered to victory 2017 and became the first drag racer to record the track’s first sub-four-second Funny Car pass in 2014, Alexis DeJoria was eager to return to Brainerd International Raceway in hopes of turning on more win lights and breaking through with her first victory of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. She and her Mike Neff-led team were strong throughout qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals to earn a spot in the top half of the field and carried that momentum into race day, but were outpaced to the finish line in a tight side-by-side race during the opening round of eliminations.

With four semifinal finishes to-date, the first-year JCM Racing Bandero Café Funny Car team appears to be right on the cusp of reaching their first final round together and despite the early exit, continued to show more of that promise this weekend in Brainerd, Minn. While DeJoria’s machine was up in smoke during the first qualifying round, she quickly rebounded with three stout passes in the remaining sessions. In Q2, she clocked a 3.942 E.T. to place sixth on the timing sheet. During Saturday’s first round, she was straight down the groove in 3.913 seconds at 332.51 mph, which held up to be the third-quickest run of the session. Continue reading →

Brainerd, MN – Alexis has advanced to four semifinal finishes so far in 2025, but is still seeking her first final round appearance with the first-year JCM Racing Bandero Café Funny Car team.

DeJoria is currently occupies the No. 10 spot in the Funny Car point standings with two races remaining before playoff positions for the ’25 Countdown to the Championship are set.

During the 2014 event, DeJoria became the first Funny Car pilot to clock a sub-four-second run on the BIR track (3.998 E.T. during round two of eliminations).

Alexis on the significance of this weekends event.  “Brainerd is an important race for our team right now. The points are tight but really, that’s not our main focus. For us, we want to prioritize going rounds and getting more runs under our belt to continue to add data and build for the future. Getting some more round wins and potentially winning our first race would be epic, no doubt. Especially at Brainerd, a track where I’ve had success in the past.” Continue reading →

SONOMA, CA – Fresh off an impressive performance at the NHRA Northwest Nationals where she won back-to-back rounds on holeshots to reach the semifinals for the fourth time in 2025, Alexis DeJoria rolled into Sonoma Raceway eager to keep the momentum building at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals but ultimately came up short on race day after a tough first-round match against the event’s No. 2 qualifier.

The weekend’s varying conditions challenged the Bandero Café Funny Car team throughout qualifying. In Friday’s opening session, DeJoria’s machine hazed the tires, and she finished the round sitting in 15th. In round two, she experienced severe tire shake as soon as she hit the throttle and went into Saturday occupying the No. 17 spot. Her Q3 run was off to a good start, but a dropped cylinder caused the car to slow, and she went into the final round not yet qualified. In their final attempt, crew chiefs Mike Neff and Todd Smith sent DeJoria down the track in 3.983 seconds at 326.16 mph to bump into the field.

Starting from 15th, DeJoria drew Spencer Hyde as her first-round competitor in what was billed as NHRA’s Funny Car Marquee Matchup of the race. Lining up opposite Hyde for the first time in his rookie season, DeJoria snagged the starting line advantage and took her Bandero Café Funny Car to the finish line stripe in 3.913 seconds but despite clocking her quickest pass of the weekend, it wasn’t enough to defeat Hyde’s 3.870-second E.T. Continue reading →

Sonoma, CA – Fresh off one of her most impressive race day performances of the season, DeJoria wrapped up her Seattle outing by winning back-to-back rounds on holeshots to reach the semifinals for the fourth time in 2025.

Alexia will compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge on Saturday.  She is currently ranked eighth in the Funny Car point standings with three races remaining before the conclusion of the regular season’

“Our Bandero Café Funny Car team is coming off a good showing in Seattle, and I’m excited to get right back out there this weekend in Sonoma. It’s a great facility, good air, cool conditions, good track surface, and the fans are great. Just all around really enjoy racing there. We’d of course like continue our progression and success with going rounds and hopefully, acquire our very first Wally together as a team,” explained Alexis. Continue reading →

KENT, WA – Alexis DeJoria started her West Coast campaign with a semifinal finish Sunday at the Muckleshoot Casino & Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. Driving the Bandero Café Funny Car, DeJoria turned in one of her most impressive race day performances of the season, winning back-to-back rounds on holeshots to reach the semifinals for the fourth time in 2025.

After qualifying No. 11 with a 3.973-second pass at 328.94 mph, DeJoria faced Chad Green in the first round of eliminations. DeJoria left first with a sharp .065 reaction time and used it to her advantage, powering to a 3.936 E.T. at 330.39 mph to edge out Green’s quicker-but-losing 3.915 at 328.06 mph. She followed up with another holeshot win in round two, this time over 2018 Funny Car world champion J.R. Todd. DeJoria ran her quickest pass of the weekend, a 3.918 at 330.80 mph, to hold off Todd’s 3.907 at 336.32 mph. In the semifinals, DeJoria ran another strong 3.946 E.T. at 329.34 mph but couldn’t keep pace with a charging Matt Hagan, who posted a 3.879 at 332.92 mph to advance. Continue reading →

Kent, WA – Alexia has three semifinal appearances in the first 10 events and is currently occupying the No. 11 position in the Funny Car standings with four races remaining before playoff positions are locked.

She won the 2011 NHRA Northwest Nationals while competing in the Top Alcohol Funny Car category Including her Sportsman wins, DeJoria is an eight-time NHRA winner overall (1 Super Comp, 1 Top Alcohol Funny Car, 6 Funny Car)

Alexis explained the teams excitement as the move into the last few events of the regular season. “We have made great strides so far throughout the first half of the season, and yes, we had a short race day at these last few events, but we are not deterred. Building a competitive team and getting everything dialed in takes time. Our team is still relatively brand-new; we’re barely seven months into it, and I know we are strong and there is so much left on the table. Continue reading →