GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 8, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria kicked off a new chapter with John Force Racing in impressive fashion, racing to the final round at the 57th annual NHRA Gatornationals Sunday afternoon to open the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season at Gainesville Raceway. Driving the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car in her first race with the legendary team, DeJoria charged through eliminations to reach her 17th career final round, ultimately leaving Florida ranked No. 2 in the Funny Car points standings and firmly establishing herself as an early-season contender.
DeJoria went into the Gatornationals with serious momentum following a promising test session at Gainesville that saw her record an unofficial career-best speed of 337.24 mph. She faced traction issues in Friday’s two qualifying sessions, but she bounced back on Saturday with a 4.060 E.T. at 324.83 mph, the third-quickest pass of the third qualifying session, to move up to the No. 10 spot and earn one bonus point. Tuned by former Funny Car drivers Mike Neff and Jonnie Lindberg, DeJoria followed that up with a 4.093 E.T. at 312.64 mph in the final qualifying session, ultimately locking in the No. 11 spot on the Sunday eliminations ladder.
Racing on International Women’s Day, the first round of eliminations was a wild one for DeJoria and opponent Cruz Pedregon, who got out of the groove and struck one of the timing blocks, disqualifying his run. DeJoria pedaled her way to a 4.545 E.T. at just under 300 mph. She then lined up against 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde in the quarterfinals, where DeJoria left the starting line a tick ahead of Hyde and charged to a 4.040-second pass at 324.59 mph to win a side-by-side race over Hyde and his 4.066 E.T. With that round win, DeJoria locked in a spot in the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season at the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals.
The unpredictability of Funny Car continued in the semifinals with past world champion J.R. Todd going red against DeJoria, handing her the win light. DeJoria was ready for a race, though, as she matched her pass from the last round with a 4.040 E.T. at 325.45 mph to advance. In the final, DeJoria and Chad Green charged off the starting line together before DeJoria lost traction and her opponent was able to drive away with the win.
“I’m so proud of this team. I’m so proud of myself,” DeJoria said. “It’s been almost two years since I’ve been to a final. I’m locked and loaded right now. I have the confidence back. Everything has come together full circle. I’m so proud to be racing under the John Force Racing banner. Everybody works together really well. It’s like a big family. Everyone is a big team here and the camaraderie is unmatched. I absolutely adore John Force. He came up to me just ahead of the finals and he said ‘this one’s from the heart,’ and he put his fist to his chest, and it took everything in me to keep it together. I’ve won races before, I’ve been to finals before, but it’s been a really long time so this was a big one. I had my dad out here today and that was really special. I’m beyond excited. Even though we didn’t get the hardware, it’s OK because this is the first of many, and we are far from over.”
DeJoria and her John Force Racing Bandero Café Funny Car team will next head to the NHRA Arizona Nationals, March 20–22, at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz. The Phoenix-area facility holds special significance for DeJoria, as it was the site of her first career NHRA victory in 2014 and where she captured the inaugural Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2023.
Qualified: No. 11 (4.060 E.T. at 324.83 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.545 E.T. at 298.40 MPH defeated Cruz Pedregon (No Time, hit a timing block)
E2: 4.040 E.T. at 324.59 MPH defeated Spencer Hyde 4.066 E.T. at 314.39 MPH
E3: 4.040 E.T. at 325.45 MPH defeated J.R. Todd (Foul, red light)
E4: 5.003 E.T. at 167.59 MPH defeated by Chad Green 3.959 E.T. at 329.91 MPH
Continue reading...
DeJoria went into the Gatornationals with serious momentum following a promising test session at Gainesville that saw her record an unofficial career-best speed of 337.24 mph. She faced traction issues in Friday’s two qualifying sessions, but she bounced back on Saturday with a 4.060 E.T. at 324.83 mph, the third-quickest pass of the third qualifying session, to move up to the No. 10 spot and earn one bonus point. Tuned by former Funny Car drivers Mike Neff and Jonnie Lindberg, DeJoria followed that up with a 4.093 E.T. at 312.64 mph in the final qualifying session, ultimately locking in the No. 11 spot on the Sunday eliminations ladder.
Racing on International Women’s Day, the first round of eliminations was a wild one for DeJoria and opponent Cruz Pedregon, who got out of the groove and struck one of the timing blocks, disqualifying his run. DeJoria pedaled her way to a 4.545 E.T. at just under 300 mph. She then lined up against 2025 NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde in the quarterfinals, where DeJoria left the starting line a tick ahead of Hyde and charged to a 4.040-second pass at 324.59 mph to win a side-by-side race over Hyde and his 4.066 E.T. With that round win, DeJoria locked in a spot in the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season at the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals.
The unpredictability of Funny Car continued in the semifinals with past world champion J.R. Todd going red against DeJoria, handing her the win light. DeJoria was ready for a race, though, as she matched her pass from the last round with a 4.040 E.T. at 325.45 mph to advance. In the final, DeJoria and Chad Green charged off the starting line together before DeJoria lost traction and her opponent was able to drive away with the win.
“I’m so proud of this team. I’m so proud of myself,” DeJoria said. “It’s been almost two years since I’ve been to a final. I’m locked and loaded right now. I have the confidence back. Everything has come together full circle. I’m so proud to be racing under the John Force Racing banner. Everybody works together really well. It’s like a big family. Everyone is a big team here and the camaraderie is unmatched. I absolutely adore John Force. He came up to me just ahead of the finals and he said ‘this one’s from the heart,’ and he put his fist to his chest, and it took everything in me to keep it together. I’ve won races before, I’ve been to finals before, but it’s been a really long time so this was a big one. I had my dad out here today and that was really special. I’m beyond excited. Even though we didn’t get the hardware, it’s OK because this is the first of many, and we are far from over.”
DeJoria and her John Force Racing Bandero Café Funny Car team will next head to the NHRA Arizona Nationals, March 20–22, at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz. The Phoenix-area facility holds special significance for DeJoria, as it was the site of her first career NHRA victory in 2014 and where she captured the inaugural Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in 2023.
Qualified: No. 11 (4.060 E.T. at 324.83 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.545 E.T. at 298.40 MPH defeated Cruz Pedregon (No Time, hit a timing block)
E2: 4.040 E.T. at 324.59 MPH defeated Spencer Hyde 4.066 E.T. at 314.39 MPH
E3: 4.040 E.T. at 325.45 MPH defeated J.R. Todd (Foul, red light)
E4: 5.003 E.T. at 167.59 MPH defeated by Chad Green 3.959 E.T. at 329.91 MPH
Continue reading...
