READING, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2025) – NHRA Countdown to the Championship-challenger Alexis DeJoria advanced into the quarterfinals on race day at the NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish. Coming off a strong semifinal finish at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, DeJoria and her first-year JCM Racing Funny Car team continued to impress at the first of six playoff races. While she had hoped for a longer Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway, DeJoria has nothing but confidence as she and the team prepare for the upcoming NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals next weekend.
Aboard the Bandero Café Funny Car, DeJoria opened qualifying with a 4.007 effort on Friday afternoon before powering to a 3.948 E.T. at 329.36 mph in the second round to place her in the provisional No. 10 spot after day one. DeJoria encountered traction issues in the third session, but closed out qualifying with a 3.983-second pass.
Starting from 10th, DeJoria faced No. 7 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson in round one of eliminations. DeJoria moved first and powered to a 3.955 E.T. versus Wilkerson’s 3.953-second effort to score the holeshot win and advance into round two, where she faced Paul Lee. Crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith tuned the Bandero Café machine to another stout pass of 3.958 seconds, which held up to be the quickest run of the quarterfinals, but this time it was DeJoria’s opponent who came out on top thanks to his quicker reaction time, ending her day sooner than she had hoped.
“We made three full pulls out of four during qualifying,” said DeJoria, who was competing in her 250th Funny Car event over the weekend. “Didn’t get as high up in the qualifying order as we had hoped, so didn’t have lane choice, but it didn’t matter because we got the win despite that left lane being tricky. Ran a great number and got it on a holeshot. Second round, we ran the quickest E.T. of the session, but unfortunately, I missed it on the starting line and got beat. So, won on a holeshot and got beat on a holeshot, but right now, we’ve got a really good car and we’re consistent. We ran a 3.955 first round and a 3.958 second round, and I’m just really happy. We’re jamming, we’re making good runs, and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
DeJoria leaves Reading ranked ninth in the Funny Car standings. She will continue to pursue more round wins and championship points next weekend at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C., the series’ first four-wide playoff event. DeJoria returns to the Charlotte-area facility after having advanced to the final quad at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway earlier this season.
Qualified: No. 11 (3.948 E.T. at 329.26 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.955 E.T. at 329.75 MPH defeated Daniel Wilkerson 3.953 E.T. at 322.96 MPH
E2: 3.958 E.T. at 329.75 MPH defeated by Paul Lee 3.962 E.T. at 326.71 MPH
Continue reading...
Aboard the Bandero Café Funny Car, DeJoria opened qualifying with a 4.007 effort on Friday afternoon before powering to a 3.948 E.T. at 329.36 mph in the second round to place her in the provisional No. 10 spot after day one. DeJoria encountered traction issues in the third session, but closed out qualifying with a 3.983-second pass.
Starting from 10th, DeJoria faced No. 7 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson in round one of eliminations. DeJoria moved first and powered to a 3.955 E.T. versus Wilkerson’s 3.953-second effort to score the holeshot win and advance into round two, where she faced Paul Lee. Crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith tuned the Bandero Café machine to another stout pass of 3.958 seconds, which held up to be the quickest run of the quarterfinals, but this time it was DeJoria’s opponent who came out on top thanks to his quicker reaction time, ending her day sooner than she had hoped.
“We made three full pulls out of four during qualifying,” said DeJoria, who was competing in her 250th Funny Car event over the weekend. “Didn’t get as high up in the qualifying order as we had hoped, so didn’t have lane choice, but it didn’t matter because we got the win despite that left lane being tricky. Ran a great number and got it on a holeshot. Second round, we ran the quickest E.T. of the session, but unfortunately, I missed it on the starting line and got beat. So, won on a holeshot and got beat on a holeshot, but right now, we’ve got a really good car and we’re consistent. We ran a 3.955 first round and a 3.958 second round, and I’m just really happy. We’re jamming, we’re making good runs, and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
DeJoria leaves Reading ranked ninth in the Funny Car standings. She will continue to pursue more round wins and championship points next weekend at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C., the series’ first four-wide playoff event. DeJoria returns to the Charlotte-area facility after having advanced to the final quad at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway earlier this season.
Qualified: No. 11 (3.948 E.T. at 329.26 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.955 E.T. at 329.75 MPH defeated Daniel Wilkerson 3.953 E.T. at 322.96 MPH
E2: 3.958 E.T. at 329.75 MPH defeated by Paul Lee 3.962 E.T. at 326.71 MPH
Continue reading...
