NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Pre-Race Report
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Event 8 of 21
Bristol Dragway
Bristol, Tenn.
June 9 – 11, 2023
Event Note:
Due to persistent rain, last weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals from Epping, N.H. were postponed following Saturday qualifying. Eliminations will be contested this weekend during qualifying for the Thunder Valley Nationals as follows:
FRIDAY
Bristol Q2/Epping E1
SATURDAY
Bristol Q3/Epping E2
Epping E3 (#2Fast2Tasty E1)
Bristol Q4/Epping finals (#2Fast2Tasty E2)
DeJoria will start from the No. 10 seed and will face Robert Hight in E1
Due to persistent rain, last weekend’s NHRA New England Nationals from Epping, N.H. were postponed following Saturday qualifying. Eliminations will be contested this weekend during qualifying for the Thunder Valley Nationals as follows:
FRIDAY
Bristol Q2/Epping E1
SATURDAY
Bristol Q3/Epping E2
Epping E3 (#2Fast2Tasty E1)
Bristol Q4/Epping finals (#2Fast2Tasty E2)
DeJoria will start from the No. 10 seed and will face Robert Hight in E1
ALEXIS DEJORIA: Driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Highlights:
2021 event champion and No. 1 qualifier
2012 event runner-up
2022 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified 12th; Semifinal finish (defeated Bob Tasca in E1, Matt Hagan in E2; defeated by Ron Capps in E3)
Last Event (Epping):
Qualified 10th; Eliminations to be contested in Bristol
2023 Statistics:
Six races (does not include Epping); one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
200 races (does not include Epping); six wins, six No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
DeJoria’s career-first final round occurred during the 2012 Bristol event
Del Worsham, DeJoria’s crew chief and DC Motorsports co-owner, also served as the lead tuner during her 2012 runner-up
2023 will mark the fourth time that DeJoria and Worsham have raced together at Bristol as a driver/tuner duo. In addition to their 2012 success, the two were also successful in capturing the 2021 Bristol trophy. In 2022, they advanced to the semifinals
Fan Events:
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – noon, Team Toyota autograph session – Toyota midway display
Quotable:NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Highlights:
2021 event champion and No. 1 qualifier
2012 event runner-up
2022 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Event Recap:
Qualified 12th; Semifinal finish (defeated Bob Tasca in E1, Matt Hagan in E2; defeated by Ron Capps in E3)
Last Event (Epping):
Qualified 10th; Eliminations to be contested in Bristol
2023 Statistics:
Six races (does not include Epping); one runner-up finish
Career Statistics:
200 races (does not include Epping); six wins, six No. 1 qualifiers
Noteworthy:
DeJoria’s career-first final round occurred during the 2012 Bristol event
Del Worsham, DeJoria’s crew chief and DC Motorsports co-owner, also served as the lead tuner during her 2012 runner-up
2023 will mark the fourth time that DeJoria and Worsham have raced together at Bristol as a driver/tuner duo. In addition to their 2012 success, the two were also successful in capturing the 2021 Bristol trophy. In 2022, they advanced to the semifinals
Fan Events:
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – noon, Team Toyota autograph session – Toyota midway display
“Very unfortunate that we couldn’t get the race completed up in Epping. Having to race while qualifying for another event this weekend is going to be very tricky. Definitely not something I’ve ever done before, but Bristol is a great track and one of my favorites so I’m excited. We’ve always done well there, and would love nothing more than to put our Bandero GR Supra in the winner’s circle. There are a lot of points up for grabs this weekend, so a good Bristol outing is very important. The goal is to get ourselves back up into the top three in points.”
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.
