Alexis DeJoria: Driver of the Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Toyota Camry
The Results:
Q1: 8.310 ET at 83.67 MPH
Q2: 8.322 ET at 81.91 MPH
Q3: 10.028 ET at 71.93 MPH
Q4: 4.108 ET at 298.93 MPH
The Competition:
No. 10 Alexis DeJoria vs No. 7 Matt Hagan
Quotables:
Alexis DeJoria, Driver
“We definitely added a little drama to the show, that’s for sure,” she said of having to wait until the fourth round of qualifying to secure her spot in the sixteen car field after not making it down the track in the first three qualifying attempts. “Before I went out there on that last one, Tommy [DeLago, crew chief] said ‘if we don’t get this thing figured out and it goes out there and shakes, be ready for it and step on it quick,’ and I was ready. I was thinking, ‘man if it does anything, I’m going to be on it so quickly. I just need to get it down the track, and I don’t care how.’ Luckily we made it down the track and our Patrón XO Cafe Toyota Camry got it in with a 4.10. We’re in the show, we’re racing tomorrow, and that’s what counts.”
TV Schedule:
Qualifying
September 28, 3:30AM-5AM EST
ESPN2
Qualifying Re-Air
September 28, 3PM-4PM EST
ESPN2
Eliminations
September 28, 4PM-7PM
ESPN2
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.