Alexis DeJoria Advances to Quarterfinals at Hometown Event
NHRA New England Nationals
Event 8 of 22
New England Dragway
Epping, N.H.
June 3 - 5, 2022
EPPING, N.H. (June 5, 2022) – A part-time Rhode Islander with strong New England roots, Alexis DeJoria always looks forward to returning ‘home’ to New England Dragway each year. DeJoria, a six-time race winner, has visited the New England Nationals final round before (2014) and was looking to take it one step further on Sunday and capture her first win of the 2022 season.
Surrounded by local family and friends, DeJoria began her race weekend by qualifying the Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra ninth on the Funny Car ladder. She faced Tim Wilkerson in round one of eliminations on Sunday morning and took her machine on a stout 3.973-second at 324.28 mph ride to defeat her opponent’s 4.128-second effort.
The quarterfinals pitted DeJoria against another Top 10 competitor as she staged her Bandero Supra beside Robert Hight. The two championship contenders put on a great side-by-side show, but ultimately it was Hight who came out on the winning end. DeJoria gave it a good run, powering her machine to a 3.988-second pass but it wasn’t enough to outpace her opponent’s 3.933-second run.
“We really needed a round win this weekend,” explained DeJoria. “We’ve had a few first-round losses lately so I’m glad we got that done today. It was a tough track, and a lot of teams struggled all weekend long. We made a couple of good runs down the track in the right lane, and we feel like we’re headed in the right direction. I’m excited to get back out there. We have a week off and then we have back-to-back races in Bristol and Norwalk, which is just how we like it. I’m especially looking forward to getting back to Bristol. We’re returning as the defending event champions and there’s no better feeling than that.”
DeJoria and the Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team depart New England Dragway ranked eighth and will compete next at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tenn., June 17-19.
About Alexis DeJoria
Alexis DeJoria is a professional race car driver competing in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series’ Funny Car category. She is a Top 10-ranked driver, and including her prestigious 2014 U.S. Nationals triumph, DeJoria is a six-time NHRA national event Funny Car champion. Prior, DeJoria found success competing in the NHRA’s Super Comp and Top Alcohol Funny Car categories where she notched wins in both, making her an eight-time race winner overall.DeJoria joined DC Motorsports in 2020 as co-owner and driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila/ROKiT Toyota Funny Car. The Austin, Texas resident became the first woman to clock a sub-four second Funny Car pass in 2014, and is currently in pursuit of becoming the series’ first female Funny Car world champion.
