LAS VEGAS (November 1, 2015) – Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, stayed in Ennis and tested after the AAA Fall Nationals. The testing results definitely showed in qualifying as DeJoria blazed down the track in three of four sessions earning two valuable bonus points.
Ten Funny Cars ran in the three-second zone in qualifying for the second time, and DeJoria was one. She started just outside the top half and a first round draw with John Force.
DeJoria and her crew chief, Tommy DeLago, had a very solid run in the first round. Her 4.004 second lap defeated J. Force, who dropped a cylinder.
DeJoria’s next opponent was the pole winner, Tommy Johnson Jr. DeJoria’s Toyota Camry was gaining on Johnson throughout the run, but it gave up before the finish line allowing Johnson to barely hold on.
“This was a big weekend for Kalitta Motorsports and for Team Patrón XO Café Incendio. It was our manufacturer’s race, Toyota Nationals, and the hometown of Patrón Spirits corporate offices,” said DeJoria. “We also got to bring the mammovans out again, so that was wonderful. Racing was pretty good. We qualified well. We had the consitency that we have been looking for, so that was nice. Raceday didn’t go the way we wanted it to. I am not happy with my performance. I think I could have done better. We are going to stay and test on Monday and smooth some things out again. It has been a tough year, but that being said, we are still in the top ten. We have one more race left, so it is not over yet.”
DeJoria slipped to the eight spot in the standings, but is just two rounds from sixth in the standings.
No. 9 Qualifier (3.984 sec., 319.22 mph)
E1: DeJoria defeated J. Force – 4.004 sec., 314.90 mph to 4.261 sec., 307.02 mph
E2: DeJoria defeated by Johnson Jr. – 4.008 sec., 291.32 mph to 4.008 sec., 309.13 mph
Konnekt with Kalitta Motorsports:
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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 100 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 Optima Batteries 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 Optima Batteries Top Fuel dragster.
Associate sponsors on Kalitta Motorsports’ race cars include Justice Brothers, Kalitta Air, Optima Batteries, Patrón XO Café Incendio, Phoenix Fuel Converter, Red Line Oil, SealMaster, Summit Racing Equipment, Technicoat Companies, TMS Titanium, Toyota and Ziebart.