CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 21, 2025) – Fresh off a quarterfinal appearance at the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship opener at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa., Bandero Café Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria was looking to improve upon last week’s performance during the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, the series’ first four-wide playoff event, as she continues her pursuit of picking up her first race win of the season. DeJoria has a history of success competing in “four-across” events, having previously powered to a four-wide final elimination quad four times, including her late-day appearance at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals earlier this season.
DeJoria made two solid three-second runs out of four during qualifying, with her 3.911 E.T. at 331.77 mph placing her in the No. 5 seed going into race day on Sunday at zMAX Dragway. On race day, DeJoria lined up against No. 4 qualifier Cruz Pedregon, No. 12 qualifier Spencer Hyde, and No. 13 qualifier Chad Green in round one of eliminations. Her machine ran into traction problems early into the run while Hyde and Green made clean passes to cross the finish line stripe first and second, and advance into round two.
DeJoria, a six-time Funny Car winner and five-time semifinalist in 2025, will leave zMAX Dragway ranked 10th in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Funny Car standings. Less than two round wins separates DeJoria from the No. 6 ranked driver, leaving plenty of opportunity for DeJoria and her Bandero Café team to make up ground in the standings next weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway when the NHRA heads to the St. Louis area for the NHRA Midwest Nationals, Sept. 26 – 28.
Qualified: No. 5 (3.911 E.T. at 331.77 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.689 E.T. at 173.38 MPH defeated by Spencer Hyde 3.944 E.T. at 325.06 MPH, Chad Green 3.975 E.T. at 325.61 MPH
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DeJoria made two solid three-second runs out of four during qualifying, with her 3.911 E.T. at 331.77 mph placing her in the No. 5 seed going into race day on Sunday at zMAX Dragway. On race day, DeJoria lined up against No. 4 qualifier Cruz Pedregon, No. 12 qualifier Spencer Hyde, and No. 13 qualifier Chad Green in round one of eliminations. Her machine ran into traction problems early into the run while Hyde and Green made clean passes to cross the finish line stripe first and second, and advance into round two.
DeJoria, a six-time Funny Car winner and five-time semifinalist in 2025, will leave zMAX Dragway ranked 10th in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship Funny Car standings. Less than two round wins separates DeJoria from the No. 6 ranked driver, leaving plenty of opportunity for DeJoria and her Bandero Café team to make up ground in the standings next weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway when the NHRA heads to the St. Louis area for the NHRA Midwest Nationals, Sept. 26 – 28.
Qualified: No. 5 (3.911 E.T. at 331.77 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.689 E.T. at 173.38 MPH defeated by Spencer Hyde 3.944 E.T. at 325.06 MPH, Chad Green 3.975 E.T. at 325.61 MPH
Continue reading...
