Fresh off an impressive performance at the NHRA Northwest Nationals where she won back-to-back rounds on holeshots to reach the semifinals for the fourth time in 2025, Alexis DeJoria rolled into Sonoma Raceway eager to keep the momentum building at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals but ultimately came up short on race day after a tough first-round match against the event’s No. 2 qualifier.
The weekend’s varying conditions challenged the Bandero Café Funny Car team throughout qualifying. In Friday’s opening session, DeJoria’s machine hazed the tires, and she finished the round sitting in 15th. In round two, she experienced severe tire shake as soon as she hit the throttle and went into Saturday occupying the No. 17 spot. Her Q3 run was off to a good start, but a dropped cylinder caused the car to slow, and she went into the final round not yet qualified. In their final attempt, crew chiefs Mike Neff and Todd Smith sent DeJoria down the track in 3.983 seconds at 326.16 mph to bump into the field.
Starting from 15th, DeJoria drew Spencer Hyde as her first-round competitor in what was billed as NHRA’s Funny Car Marquee Matchup of the race. Lining up opposite Hyde for the first time in his rookie season, DeJoria snagged the starting line advantage and took her Bandero Café Funny Car to the finish line stripe in 3.913 seconds but despite clocking her quickest pass of the weekend, it wasn’t enough to defeat Hyde’s 3.870-second E.T.
“We struggled in qualifying, but we made a good run in Q4 and managed to get in the show that very last round,” said DeJoria. “First round today, we were 15th and obviously that’s not ideal but as we all know, you can win from anywhere. That being said, we ran a great number today; good E.T., great speed, just came up a little bit short. Didn’t get the results we were hoping for this weekend, but we’re not deterred, and we’ll be ready to get back after it in Brainerd.”
DeJoria entered the race weekend ranked eighth in the Funny Car point standings but with the early exit, slipped two spots to 10th. With two races remaining before playoff positions are locked, the six-time Funny Car event champ and her Bandero Café team are looking for a strong finish to the regular season. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads to Brainerd, Minn. next for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, August 15 – 17.
Qualified: No. 15 (3.983 E.T. at 326.16 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.913 E.T. at 332.84 MPH defeated by Spencer Hyde 3.870 E.T. at 332.75 MPH
Continue reading...
The weekend’s varying conditions challenged the Bandero Café Funny Car team throughout qualifying. In Friday’s opening session, DeJoria’s machine hazed the tires, and she finished the round sitting in 15th. In round two, she experienced severe tire shake as soon as she hit the throttle and went into Saturday occupying the No. 17 spot. Her Q3 run was off to a good start, but a dropped cylinder caused the car to slow, and she went into the final round not yet qualified. In their final attempt, crew chiefs Mike Neff and Todd Smith sent DeJoria down the track in 3.983 seconds at 326.16 mph to bump into the field.
Starting from 15th, DeJoria drew Spencer Hyde as her first-round competitor in what was billed as NHRA’s Funny Car Marquee Matchup of the race. Lining up opposite Hyde for the first time in his rookie season, DeJoria snagged the starting line advantage and took her Bandero Café Funny Car to the finish line stripe in 3.913 seconds but despite clocking her quickest pass of the weekend, it wasn’t enough to defeat Hyde’s 3.870-second E.T.
“We struggled in qualifying, but we made a good run in Q4 and managed to get in the show that very last round,” said DeJoria. “First round today, we were 15th and obviously that’s not ideal but as we all know, you can win from anywhere. That being said, we ran a great number today; good E.T., great speed, just came up a little bit short. Didn’t get the results we were hoping for this weekend, but we’re not deterred, and we’ll be ready to get back after it in Brainerd.”
DeJoria entered the race weekend ranked eighth in the Funny Car point standings but with the early exit, slipped two spots to 10th. With two races remaining before playoff positions are locked, the six-time Funny Car event champ and her Bandero Café team are looking for a strong finish to the regular season. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads to Brainerd, Minn. next for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, August 15 – 17.
Qualified: No. 15 (3.983 E.T. at 326.16 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.913 E.T. at 332.84 MPH defeated by Spencer Hyde 3.870 E.T. at 332.75 MPH
Continue reading...
