Alexis DeJoria: Driver of the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car
The Results:
Q1: 4.614 E.T. at 177.79 MPH
Q2: 3.909 E.T. at 326.32 MPH
Q3: 3.915 E.T. at 325.92 MPH (one bonus point for third quickest run of the session)
Q4: 5.678 E.T. at 123.55 MPH
The Competition:
No. 9 Alexis DeJoria vs. No. 8 Courtney Force (LC)
Quotable:
Alexis DeJoria, Driver
Las Vegas is one of my favorite tracks. I’ve had half of my Funny Car wins here. It’s also somewhat of a home track for me because my family has had a house out here for quite a long time.
Qualifying was a 50/50 this weekend. We made some good runs. Unfortunately, during Q3 we made a really good run- I got a bonus point and top speed- but then my parachute got sucked up underneath my Patrón Toyota Camry and wrapped around the rear end. I lost brakes, couldn’t stop the car and somehow my left tire was wedged into the body so I couldn’t steer it either. The malfunctions were like a domino effect. In that moment, everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and there I was just headed for that wall again. I hit the wall pretty hard, but overall I was fine. It rung my bell a little bit, but my body felt fine. That says a lot about all of the changes they made to my seat after Sonoma. After Q3, we brought my car back to the pit, pulled the back-up body out and were able to run the same chassis for Q4.
I’ll be ready for tomorrow. I’m racing my girl Courtney and it’ll be an exciting race.
Photos courtesy of Gary Nastase Photography. Hi res images available upon request
About Alexis DeJoria
Alexis DeJoria is a professional race car driver competing in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. DeJoria drives the Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry as a member of the legendary Kalitta Motorsports team. DeJoria, who had all of 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 the sport of NHRA drag racing. She is a four-time Funny Car winner and made history when she became the first woman to compete in 100 Funny Car events.
About Tequila Patrón
From hand-harvesting the highest-quality 100 percent Weber Blue Agave, to the traditional, time-honored distillation process and individual labeling, numbering, and inspection of each bottle, Patrón tequila is crafted with meticulous precision and care. Though Patrón has grown to become one of the most-recognized and respected luxury spirits brands in the world, it is still exclusively produced in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, in the same small batches and with the same commitment to quality and craftsmanship. For more information about Patrón tequilas and liqueurs, please visit www.patrontequila.com.