Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, started the weekend with a bang, literally. On a stellar pass in qualifying, the machine dropped a cylinder right before the finish line. The Toyota Camry body then blew off the chassis. DeJoria was unharmed, and drove masterfully to a stop.
After working to the late hours, the Patrón crew prepared a new Toyota Camry for DeJoria, who made two passes on Saturday in qualifying. DeJoria’s best ended up being the run where she lost the Camry body, and set-up a crucial round one pairing with Courtney Force, who DeJoria is battling for the top ten Countdown position.
DeJoria and Force left the line and both were on great passes, before both ladies fell to tire smoke. DeJoria had another excellent driving job and got her Toyota Camry to cooperate to pick up the crucial round one win.
DeJoria hit tire smoke at the hit of the throttle in round two, however, she moved nearly four rounds ahead of the 11th position in the point standings and into a tie for the ninth spot.
“It was definitely an exciting race for our team, more exciting than the rest of them this year for reasons that everyone knows,” said DeJoria. “Aside from that, we gained some good points this weekend and are leaving here tied for the ninth spot and are headed to Brainerd in a week. We still hold the track record; last year, we ran a three, and you never know what can happen.”
Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car:
No. 11 Qualifier (4.088 sec., 299.20 mph)
E1: DeJoria defeated C. Force – 4.373 sec., 259.51 mph to 4.461 sec., 226.66 mph
E2: DeJoria defeated by J. Force – 10.552 sec., 82.15 mph to 4.152 sec., 300.13 mph
Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports:
For more info about Kalitta Motorsports including exclusive content such as videos, photos and more, please visit #KalittaStrong online –
Website: www.teamkalitta.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamKalitta
Twitter: www.twitter.com/TeamKalitta
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/TeamKalitta
Instagram: www.instagram.com/TeamKalitta
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.
Del Worsham drives the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car for Team Kalitta. Alexis DeJoria pilots the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car. J.R. Todd drives the Red Line Oil Top Fuel dragster while Connie’s nephew, Doug Kalitta, pilots the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as head tuner for all Team Kalitta entries. He is assisted by co-crew chiefs Jon Oberhofer and Nick Boninfante on the DHL Toyota Camry Funny Car, by Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar on the Tequila Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, and by Jim Oberhofer on the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster. Connie serves as crew chief on the Red Line Oil Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air,Patrón XO Café Incendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.