SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 19, 2014)— Although she’ll always consider herself a ‘California girl’ there is a special place in NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria’s heart for the New England area. Many may not realize that DeJoria, who moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas in December 2012, spent several years of her early childhood living in Narragansett, R.I., and is looking forward to racing in front of her Northeastern family and friends this weekend at the 2nd annual Auto Plus NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H.
Prior to the race, DeJoria, who pilots the fourth ranked Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Toyota Camry nitro Funny Car, will spend time in Narragansett with family. On Friday morning, an army of about 30 family members will make the trek from Rhode Island to Epping to watch DeJoria compete, and the ninth-year NHRA racer plans to put on a good show.
Epping is the second of a four-in-a-row stretch of back-to-back races. The team had a decent weekend at the race prior, picking up both second round and qualifying bonus points. So far this season, they have two wins, a history making run, a track record, and a No. 1 qualifier under their belt. Although they were disappointed about getting eliminated in the second round last weekend in Bristol, they’re pleased with the consistency of their 10,000-horsepower Toyota Camry and feel confident in their warm-weather tune-up as they head into these hot summer races. Thankfully, before they head into the historically hot Joliet and Norwalk events, they’ll have another opportunity to race in cooler weather this weekend, which typically leads to ultra-quick runs.
“Last year in Epping we didn’t do so hot,” said DeJoria, “but since we’ve been doing so well this year, I’m excited to get back there and see what numbers we can throw down. It’s supposed to be in the mid 70’s, so we should be able to make some powerful runs.”
The Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Toyota Camry Funny Car team begins qualifying for 2nd annual Auto Plus NHRA New England Nationals at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H. at 5PM EST on Friday, June 20. For more information please visit www.alexisdejoria.com, Follow Us on Twitter @ADR_Nitro771, or Like Us on Facebook Alexis DeJoria.
TV Schedule
Qualifying
June 21, 7PM-8PM EST
ESPN2
Eliminations
June 22, 1PM-4PM EST
ESPN
About Alexis DeJoria
Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and proud owner of Tequila Patrόn, is a professional NHRA race car driver, competing in the nitro Funny Car class on the Kalitta Motorsports team. Alexis drives the Patrόn XO Cafe-sponsored 2014 Toyota Camry. Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about following her passion, and her 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 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) Mello Yello 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.