Venice, CA (October 18, 2011) -- Kalitta Motorsports' Alexis DeJoria Racing Team performed well in tough conditions at their second professional showing in Phoenix, AZ this past weekend at the 27th Annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.
The sweltering Arizona heat made for a very tricky track this weekend, and likely, the worst conditions creww chiefs have seen all year. The cars were smoking their tires left and right, and there was a lot of pedaling down the track. While Alexis, driver of the Tequila Patrón car for the Kalitta Motorsports team, had her own set of issues during qualifying, including breaking the tires loose at the top end of the track a few times, she was able to pull it out and make it to the elimination round for the first time in the Funny Car ranks. Her best qualifying run was during round two where she ran 4.320-second at 274.27-mph, which put her comfortably in the number eight spot going into the first round.
Sunday's elimination round was a big milestone for the Kalitta Motorsports driver, as it was her first time ever competing for the Funny Car trophy, and her first time being part of the pro driver introductions. "Just to race on Sunday was so huge," said DeJoria "We didn't just qualify; we qualified in the top half of the field. I'm so proud of our team and this race was definetely a step in the right direction."
Alexis started out strong in the first round against Bob Tasca, but the car dropped the cylinders on both sides, costing her the round. Alexis' Crew Chief radioed in and told her to lift off the throttle, in order to prevent more damage to the motor. Although Team Patrón was out after the first round, Alexis and the team count this weekend as a success. They displayed improvement since their previous race in Dallas, and worked well together as a team. Alexis, who handled the track well despite the rough conditions, said "I like to have these sorts of curveballs. They prodve for more lessons learned and only help to better prepare us for the future."
The team was scheduled to test today, but because of the extreme track conditions opted to test in Las Vegas the Monday after the Vegas Nationals. Alexis DeJoria and the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car team will compete next at the 11th Annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, NV, October 28th-30th. Before the weekend gets underway, Alexis will be signing autographs at the Fremont Street NHRA Driver Autograph Session on October 27th, 5PM-7PM.
On a seperate note, Alexis and the Tequila Patrón team would like to express their condolences for the loss of Dan Wheldon and Rick Huseman, On behalf of the entire team, Alexis says, "Our prayers go out to their families and loved ones. It's so hard to lose members of the racing community - we're such a family, and to lose one of your own out there, it affects everyone very deeply."
About Alexis DeJoria
Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and proud owner of Tequila Patrón, is a professional NHRA race car driver, competing in the Nitro Funny Car class on the Kalitta Motorsports team. She is their second Nitro Funny Car driver and fourth member of the team. Alexis drives a Tequila Patrón-sponsored 2011 Toyota Camry.
Alexis had a successful career in the Top Alcohol Funny Car category where she co-owned and operated her team, and she was one of the few females ever to do so. She left the TAFC category holding the title of Top Female Top Alcohol Funny Car Racer and the 2011 NHRA Northwest Nationals TAFC event champion. Alexis made racing history when she competed in the first ever 'woman vs. woman' race in her class in 2010, and she is the 2nd woman ever to win a TAFC race. She is currently the female world record holder for the fastest and quickest TAFC speeds. Alexis is also well-known for her infamous 2009 Englishtown, NJ crash.
Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the would to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about following her passion. She is proud to encourage and inspire young women to go after their dreams. Alexis' 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 dangerous, 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) Full Throttle 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 profession drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.
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