ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Sept. 27, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria and the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team continued to demonstrate their race-winning potential throughout the NHRA Nationals at The Rock, turning in a standout qualifying performance on Saturday before advancing to the quarterfinals Sunday at Rockingham Dragway.
DeJoria entered the second of six NHRA Countdown to the Championship events ranked seventh in the Funny Car standings. After two throwaway runs on Friday, she and her first-year John Force Racing team, led by crew chiefs Mike Neff and Jonnie Lindberg, came out swinging on Saturday, clocking the quickest Funny Car pass in both of the day’s qualifying sessions.
DeJoria powered to a 3.892-second pass at 334.82 mph in the third qualifying session, the quickest run of the round, to earn three bonus points and jump from 12th to second in the qualifying order. She backed it up in the final session with another class-leading run, clocking a 3.924 at 331.86 to collect three more bonus points. Her Saturday sweep of the session-best elapsed times secured the No. 2 starting position for race day.
DeJoria lined up against John Smith in the opening round of eliminations and was first off the starting line. She kept the Bandero Café Chevrolet hooked up and powered to a 3.959-second pass at 318.92 mph to advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive event. There, DeJoria faced Paul Lee in an exciting side-by-side match. The pair charged down the Rockingham Dragway strip, with DeJoria clocking a 3.924-second pass at 328.95 mph to Lee’s nearly identical 3.923 at 328.95, but it was Lee’s slight starting line advantage that allowed him to cross the finish line first, ending DeJoria’s bid for the Rockingham victory.
“I’m frustrated and heartbroken for our team,” said DeJoria. “We did everything right this weekend, we were no slouches. We know what we have, and I know I keep saying it, but I truly believe we’re right on the brink, and everybody knows it. I really thought today was going to be our day to finally break through for that first win.
“I know these things take time. If anyone knows that, it’s me. I’m patient, but I want a win for this team so bad. These guys, they put their hearts and souls into it, and I do too. We just need to catch a break, but I’m certain we’ve got a lot of luck coming our way. We’re storing up for something big. I’m proud of these guys. Our Bandero Café team is badass. We just need to get that first win out of the way.”
DeJoria will leave Rockingham maintaining the No. 7 position in the NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car standings. With four races remaining in the 2026 season, DeJoria and her Bandero Café team will have four more opportunities to build on their strong Rockingham performance and capture their first victory together.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action in just a few days for the NHRA Midwest Nationals, Oct. 2–4, at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. The event marks the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship.
Qualified: No. 2 (3.892 E.T. at 334.82 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.959 E.T. at 318.92 MPH defeated John Smith 4.429 E.T. at 209.79 MPH
E2: 3.924 E.T. at 328.95 MPH defeated by Paul Lee 3.923 E.T. at 328.95 MPH
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
Continue reading...
DeJoria entered the second of six NHRA Countdown to the Championship events ranked seventh in the Funny Car standings. After two throwaway runs on Friday, she and her first-year John Force Racing team, led by crew chiefs Mike Neff and Jonnie Lindberg, came out swinging on Saturday, clocking the quickest Funny Car pass in both of the day’s qualifying sessions.
DeJoria powered to a 3.892-second pass at 334.82 mph in the third qualifying session, the quickest run of the round, to earn three bonus points and jump from 12th to second in the qualifying order. She backed it up in the final session with another class-leading run, clocking a 3.924 at 331.86 to collect three more bonus points. Her Saturday sweep of the session-best elapsed times secured the No. 2 starting position for race day.
DeJoria lined up against John Smith in the opening round of eliminations and was first off the starting line. She kept the Bandero Café Chevrolet hooked up and powered to a 3.959-second pass at 318.92 mph to advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive event. There, DeJoria faced Paul Lee in an exciting side-by-side match. The pair charged down the Rockingham Dragway strip, with DeJoria clocking a 3.924-second pass at 328.95 mph to Lee’s nearly identical 3.923 at 328.95, but it was Lee’s slight starting line advantage that allowed him to cross the finish line first, ending DeJoria’s bid for the Rockingham victory.
“I’m frustrated and heartbroken for our team,” said DeJoria. “We did everything right this weekend, we were no slouches. We know what we have, and I know I keep saying it, but I truly believe we’re right on the brink, and everybody knows it. I really thought today was going to be our day to finally break through for that first win.
“I know these things take time. If anyone knows that, it’s me. I’m patient, but I want a win for this team so bad. These guys, they put their hearts and souls into it, and I do too. We just need to catch a break, but I’m certain we’ve got a lot of luck coming our way. We’re storing up for something big. I’m proud of these guys. Our Bandero Café team is badass. We just need to get that first win out of the way.”
DeJoria will leave Rockingham maintaining the No. 7 position in the NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car standings. With four races remaining in the 2026 season, DeJoria and her Bandero Café team will have four more opportunities to build on their strong Rockingham performance and capture their first victory together.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action in just a few days for the NHRA Midwest Nationals, Oct. 2–4, at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. The event marks the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship.
Qualified: No. 2 (3.892 E.T. at 334.82 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.959 E.T. at 318.92 MPH defeated John Smith 4.429 E.T. at 209.79 MPH
E2: 3.924 E.T. at 328.95 MPH defeated by Paul Lee 3.923 E.T. at 328.95 MPH
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
NHRA Nationals at the Rock
Continue reading...
