Alexis DeJoria, Driver of the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car
Qualified:
No. 5 (3.910 E.T. at 324.51 MPH)
The Results:
E1: 3.980 E.T. at 319.45 MPH defeated Jonnie Lindberg 7.831 E.T. at 103.88 MPH
E2: 3.979 E.T. at 320.05 MPH defeated Jim Campbell 4.738 E.T. at 164.75 MPH
E3: 3.976 E.T. at 322.04 MPH defeated by Courtney Force 3.957 E.T. at 325.06 MPH
Race Recap:
Alexis DeJoria and the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car team had one of the strongest performing cars at zMAX Dragway throughout the NHRA Carolina Nationals.
Three out of DeJoria’s four qualifying passes were ‘Top Three’ runs, earning her a qualifying spot in the top half of the field going into race day.
DeJoria’s first round opponent was No. 12 qualifier Jonnie Lindberg. The NHRA Brainerd winner piloted her Patrón Toyota Camry down the track in 3.980-seconds, easily defeating Lindberg’s tire smoking pass.
Second round found DeJoria squaring off against Jim Campbell and once again, DeJoria’s crew chiefs Nicky Boninfante and Tommy DeLago were ready with the hot track tune-up. Unfortunately for Campbell, the race was over before it even started when he jumped the gun and set off the red light.
In the semifinal round, DeJoria drew Courtney Force. Both women made solid runs, but Force’s 3.957-sec pass edged out DeJoria’s 3.976, ending Team Patrón’s day at the semis.
DeJoria and her team leave zMAX Dragway with the bragging rights of being the only Funny Car team to run in the three-second zone all weekend. They look to carry the momentum into the NHRA Nationals in Reading, Penn., kicking off in five days.
Quotable:
Alexis DeJoria, Driver
We’ve got to be proud about our semifinal finish today. We were up against Courtney Force and she beat us, but we would’ve beat any other team that ran in the semis; it’s just the luck of the draw.
We made seven full runs this weekend, all in the three’s [seconds], and we’re the only team out here to do so. We did a great job and we’re excited about Reading.