De Joria eager to hit the track in Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. – Second-year NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Alexis De Joria and the Tequila Patrón/Jack O’Bannon Racing team are eager to return to competition for this weekend’s O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. It has been over a month since De Joria collected her first round win at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in Las Vegas.

While some may have enjoyed the break from the hectic schedule of racing week-in-week-out, the 30 year old daughter of Patrón Spirits Company and Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products founder John Paul De Joria, the more racing, the better.

“If it was possible to race every weekend I would,” said De Joria. “When we have a long break, I really miss being out here at the track. The people, the lifestyle, the competition and doing things with the team and other racers is what I miss. I’m thrilled to be getting back in competition with my teammate Sean O’Bannon. They went to a race on their own up in Canada, and he made the finals, which is awesome. Hopefully one of these days we can get both Tequila Patrón cars in a final.”

“We did do some testing in Vegas during the break,” De Joria continued. “It was very, very hot conditions, and the track was pretty slick. It was good to get some experience in those conditions because that’s what we’re going to start racing in during the summer. We ran a 5.95, which was one of the quickest runs of the session. I can’t say enough about my Crew Chief Bob DeVour and this team. They have really made my job as a driver a lot easier.”

With her teammate Sean switching to a ’08 Chevy Monte Carlo body and breaking the 260 mph barrier the first race out with it, De Joria will take a hard look at making the switch on her car from her current ’07 Dodge Charger.

“I’m going to sit in Sean’s car and see how I like the visibility,” commented De Joria. “Bob and my crew have put a lot of work into my Charger to get the visibility good. Ever since they lowered the doghouse, my vision has been great. Sean did run some good mph with his new body in Canada, so we’ll just have to wait and see. We’re not sure yet if we’re going to switch.”

Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars with two sessions, followed by one final session Saturday morning. Eliminations begin with round one on Saturday afternoon and final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón is the world’s No. 1 selling ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive Weaber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by Las Vegas-based The Patrón Spirits Company, brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón Gran Platinum, Patrón Anejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café (tequila and coffee blend), and Patrón Citrónge (extra fine orange liqueur), Ultimat Vodka (80 proof, Black Cherry and Chocolate Vanilla), as well as Pyrat Pistol, Pyrat Cask, and Pyrat XO Reserve Caribbean rums.

To find out more about the Jack O'Bannon Racing Team, visit their website at www.jackobannonracing.com