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Menards NHRA Nationals
Presented by PetArmor
Event 13 of 21
Heartland Motorsports Park
Topeka, Kan.
Aug. 11-13, 2023
Eventful Weekend for Team Bandero at Topeka
Qualified: No. 12 (4.121 E.T. at 298.27 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.029 E.T. at 306.19 MPH defeated John Force 4.867 E.T. at 159.66 MPH
E2: 4.046 E.T. at 317.57 MPH defeated by Bob Tasca 4.025 E.T. at 303.03 MPH
Qualified: No. 12 (4.121 E.T. at 298.27 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 4.029 E.T. at 306.19 MPH defeated John Force 4.867 E.T. at 159.66 MPH
E2: 4.046 E.T. at 317.57 MPH defeated by Bob Tasca 4.025 E.T. at 303.03 MPH
TOPEKA, Kan. (August 13, 2023) – Qualifying for the Menards NHRA Nationals Presented by PetArmor was anything but routine for Alexis DeJoria and the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team. Despite not taking the Tree during two of the three sessions, the three-time finalists in 2023 made the most of their sole qualifying attempt before advancing to the quarterfinals on race day.
In the opening qualifying round, a mechanical malfunction prevented DeJoria from being able to back up from the burnout. Crew chiefs Del Worsham and Nicky Boninfante didn’t let the mishap deter them and tuned the Bandero Supra to the fourth-quickest pass of the second session to put their DC Motorsports entry safely into the elimination field. During the third and final qualifying round, the team once again experienced an issue following the burnout, and DeJoria was forced to shut the car off. For a team that routinely has one of the best-performing cars in the category, the circumstances were unusual, but once again, they were able to quickly bounce back.
Starting from 12th on race day, DeJoria drew John Force as her first-round opponent. Against drag racing’s winningest driver, DeJoria clocked a 4.029 E.T. to defeat a tire-smoking Force. The run earned the Bandero team the advantage of lane choice over Bob Tasca in the next round, but their 4.046 E.T. couldn’t keep pace with Tasca’s 4.025, ending DeJoria’s day after the quarterfinals.
“It was a weird weekend,” DeJoria explained. “The weather was challenging, we had weird things happen during qualifying. We only got one full run but that 4.12 got us into the show. We made it past Force to win first round, which was great because it’s been a minute; we didn’t get past first round at the last two events. Unfortunately, we didn’t make up any ground in points this weekend, but third through sixth are all bunched up together so a solid Brainerd outing next weekend is really important. We just need to get that horsepower back in our car, and get some more consistency and go rounds.”
DeJoria and the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car team depart Heartland Motorsports Park ranked sixth in the Funny Car standings. They will compete next at Brainerd International Raceway where DeJoria returns as the 2017 Funny Car event champion.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Funny Car Point Standings (Unofficial):
| 1 | Matt Hagan | 1013 | |
| 2 | Ron Capps | 952 | |
| 3 | Robert Hight | 839 | |
| 4 | Chad Green | 828 | |
| 5 | Bob Tasca III | 815 | |
| 6 | Alexis DeJoria | 807 | |
| 7 | Tim Wilkerson | 763 | |
| 8 | J.R. Todd | 751 | |
| 9 | John Force | 673 | |
| 10 | Cruz Pedregon | 572 |
About DC Motorsports
DC Motorsports is an NHRA Funny Car team competing on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit thanks to the support of Bandero Premium Tequila, ROKiT, Toyota, and Mobil 1. Established in 2020, the team is co-owned by crew chief and two-time NHRA world champion Del Worsham and driver Alexis DeJoria.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 to making her professional debut in 2011, 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 is the only driver to own the trifecta of Super Comp, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Funny Car victories. 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.
