POMONA, Calif. (November 15, 2015) – Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car, had been solid throughout qualifying the past few races, but struggled at the Auto Club Finals. Her qualifying pass of 3.987 seconds was only under power for 900 feet. However, that pass stuck inside the top half and gave her lane choice over Courtney Force in first round.
In what has become the norm recently, DeJoria turned on a stellar light in the first round giving her the advantage over Force as they left the tree. It was a close race, but DeJoria won to earn her sixth countdown round win, which is a career best. Although she fell in second round, DeJoria was proud of her team’s efforts.
“Well, we did not get wins this season, but with that being said, I am still impressed with my team’s ability to still be in the top ten,” said DeJoria. “We only dropped one spot. We are sitting in eighth. I am proud of the progress that we have made with all the different changes that we have made to the car that changes the way that it drives. It has been a very long test session for me this year, but we went more rounds in the Countdown this year than last year. We have been in the threes a lot this year; we made three-second runs numerous times. That was really exciting for me. I am looking forward to next season. Thank you to all of my sponsors: Patrón, Toyota, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Kalitta Motorsports and everyone that supports this team on a day-to-day basis. I love you so much; thank you for everything. I’m so incredibly proud of the DHL team. They’ve worked so hard this year, and they deserve that championship. I am so incredibly proud of them.”
DeJoria finished the season in eighth in the standings.
Alexis DeJoria – Driver of the Patrón XO Café Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car:
No. 8 Qualifier (3.987 sec., 318.02 mph)
E1: DeJoria defeated C. Force – 3.978 sec., 323.66 mph to 3.986 sec., 325.14 mph
E2: DeJoria defeated by Capps – 3.955 sec., 325.14 mph to 3.885 sec., 326.87 mph
Mello Yello Championship Points:
Top Fuel (Unofficial)
1. Antron Brown (2692)
2. Tony Schumacher (2461)
3. Richie Crampton (2430)
4. Larry Dixon (2410)
5. Doug Kalitta (2388)
6. Shawn Langdon (2387)
7. Brittany Force (2363)
8. Steve Torrence (2342)
9. J.R. Todd (2307)
10. Dave Connolly (2303)
Funny Car (Unofficial)
1. Del Worsham (2664)
2. Jack Beckman (2507)
3. Tommy Johnson Jr. (2548)
4. Ron Capps (2490)
5. Matt Hagan (2418)
6. Robert Hight (2370)
7. John Force (2332)
8. Alexis DeJoria (2313)
9. Cruz Pedregon (2286)
10. Tim Wilkerson (2259)
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 six world championships and over 100 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car champion, 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.