You’re beautiful, young, fit, and have a dad who’s one of America’s wealthiest businessmen. You could easily follow in his footsteps, continuing in the family business that has brought fame and some four billion in fortune. Or you could absorb the lessons learned at his knee about living life to its fullest, recognize your passions, and branch off from the family tree to write your own success story. The latter is the course of Austin-area resident Alexis DeJoria. She’s a nationally ranked Nitro Funny Car racer and the daughter of John Paul DeJoria—the co-founder of Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits.
DeJoria grew up in California and, at one time, thought she might earn her living working for Paul Mitchell Systems, but when she was 16 years old, she attended her first race in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and was immediately hooked on Nitro Funny Cars. What are Nitro Funny Cars? In a nutshell, they’re drag racing vehicles with a forward-mounted engine (dragsters have the engine in the back) and a fiberglass or carbon fiber body that tilts up in the back. Using a high-performance fuel mix of 85–90 percent nitromethane (CH3N02, once used for rocket fuel) and 10–15 percent methanol, these cars represent readily available models (currently, the Ford Mustang, Fiat S.p.A.’s Dodge Charger, and the Toyota Camry). Read More