POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2025) – Alexis DeJoria and the Bandero Café Funny Car team were hoping for one more opportunity to race for a Wally trophy at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., but Mother Nature had other plans. Persistent showers in the Inland Empire wiped out two days of qualifying, and on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, NHRA officials made the difficult decision to cancel the race altogether due to the continuing rain and deteriorating track conditions.
For the first-year JCM Racing Funny Car team, the Pomona event was supposed to have served as a chance to close out the year with a win under their belt. The team, led by crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith, had shown steady improvement throughout the year, reaching five semifinals in 19 events and earning a qualifying position in the top half of the field 11 times, including their season-best qualifying outing in Bristol, Tenn., where they scored the No. 2 seed. They closed out the year ranked twelfth in the final standings.
“Very odd end to the 2025 season. We definitely would have liked to get some points and go some rounds to finish in the top 10,” said DeJoria, a six-time Funny Car event champion. “That being said, it’s been an incredible season with a brand-new team. What we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time is something to be proud of. The camaraderie and team bonding are wins in and of themselves. We’ve gathered a lot of knowledge, and we’ve got a great group of guys. I’m looking forward to the future.”
DeJoria will begin her pursuit of more win lights and trophies when the 2026 NHRA season gets underway with the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 6-8. Prior, she will appear at the Rev n Roll charity bowling event benefitting Riley Children’s Foundation. The event takes place on Weds., Dec. 10 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Western Bowl in Indianapolis. Lane and individual registration is now live via give.rileykids.org/revnrollforriley.
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For the first-year JCM Racing Funny Car team, the Pomona event was supposed to have served as a chance to close out the year with a win under their belt. The team, led by crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith, had shown steady improvement throughout the year, reaching five semifinals in 19 events and earning a qualifying position in the top half of the field 11 times, including their season-best qualifying outing in Bristol, Tenn., where they scored the No. 2 seed. They closed out the year ranked twelfth in the final standings.
“Very odd end to the 2025 season. We definitely would have liked to get some points and go some rounds to finish in the top 10,” said DeJoria, a six-time Funny Car event champion. “That being said, it’s been an incredible season with a brand-new team. What we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time is something to be proud of. The camaraderie and team bonding are wins in and of themselves. We’ve gathered a lot of knowledge, and we’ve got a great group of guys. I’m looking forward to the future.”
DeJoria will begin her pursuit of more win lights and trophies when the 2026 NHRA season gets underway with the Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 6-8. Prior, she will appear at the Rev n Roll charity bowling event benefitting Riley Children’s Foundation. The event takes place on Weds., Dec. 10 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Western Bowl in Indianapolis. Lane and individual registration is now live via give.rileykids.org/revnrollforriley.
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