DEJORIA RACES TO SEMIFINAL FINISH AT U.S. NATIONALS (1 Viewer)

​

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (September 5, 2021) --- Today Alexis DeJoria and the Bandero Premium Tequila/ROKiT raced to the semifinals at the biggest race of the season, the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, from the No. 7 qualifier position. After only one qualifying run DeJoria and her Bandero ROKiT Toyota team knew they would have to be at the top of their game and race in completely different conditions to earn another U.S. Nationals title. She previously won the event’s 60th edition in 2014.
“We only got one run in qualifying and ended up seventh with a good pass,” said DeJoria. “Going into race day, it was completely different conditions, but my guys always give me a good Bandero Camry. We had Blake Alexander, who beat us at the last race at Brainerd, so I wanted to redeem myself and luckily, we did. We went out there and got a little out of the groove and pedaled it a little bit and we got the win.”

​

The first-round match-up with Alexander went DeJoria’s way when she drove around him after he got loose and lost traction. She was able to get her Camry Funny Car out in front and hold on for the win even as she pedaled her car at the top end.
Facing Bob Tasca III in the quarterfinals set DeJoria up against a seasoned veteran with a good racecar. She took another win light with a strong 3.963 second run at 318.17 mph. As DeJoria was pulling away in her Toyota Funny Car Tasca was smoking the tires. The team knew they needed to dig deep and they were able to blast to the finish line first.
“In the second round against Bob Tasca, who had run a 3.88 in qualifying, we went out there and made a good run all the way down the track in the right lane,” said DeJoria. “That lane had been problematic for a lot of teams today, but not for us and that was a big win. It was a confidence builder for the entire team.”
With a chance at her second U.S. Nationals final round on the line DeJoria pulled up beside Ron Capps in the semifinals. The 2014 U.S. Nationals champion was giving up lane choice, but her team had managed to navigate tricky track conditions all day. She took a strong starting line advantage with a .077 reaction time but as the racecars approached the finish line Capps was able to get the nose of his Funny Car out in front.
“We had Ron Capps, we left on him, but we just got out-run,” said DeJoria. “We’re leaving here in seventh place and entering the Countdown where points get re-set.”
With seven races in the Countdown playoff DeJoria and her Bandero ROKiT Camry Funny Car team are building momentum at the perfect time. Over the last six races the team has reached a final round and two more semifinals including today’s strong performance.

Qualifying Results
Q1: 3.915 sec, 321.88 mph; Qual. 7
Bonus Points: 0

Race Results
First Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Alexis DeJoria 7 .114 4.128 257.14 (W)
Blake Alexander 10 .067 6.081 110.88
Second Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Alexis DeJoria 7 .104 3.963 318.17 (W)
Bob Tasca III 2 .098 7.877 96.65
Semifinal Round
Driver Qual R/T ET MPH
Alexis DeJoria 7 .077 3.992 323.04
Ron Capps 6 .091 3.909 327.74 (W)

Camping World Funny Car Regular Season Top Ten
1. Ron Capps, 981
2. John Force, 938
3. Bob Tasca III, 937
4. J.R. Todd, 931
5. Robert Hight, 867
6. Matt Hagan, 865
7. Alexis DeJoria, 835
8. Cruz Pedregon, 825
9. Tim Wilkerson, 801
10. Blake Alexander, 519