Alexis "La Patrona" DeJoria and Team Patron Have Sites Set On Going Rounds in Norwalk

Norwalk, Ohio (July 4, 2012)— The Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patron Toyota Camry Funny Car team has been riding a wave of success and heads into Norwalk, OH with a great feeling of accomplishment and looking to keep the momentum going this weekend at the 6^th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. In the past three races, Team Patron, led by ESPY nominated crew chief Del Worsham, has set a 2012 Rookie record, made final and semi-final round appearances, and beat 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion, John Force.

The team’s driver, Alexis “La Patrona” DeJoria visited neighboring Cleveland, Ohio last month for a media tour and has been looking forward to coming back to compete in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals ever since. “I’ve been here several times in my Alcohol [Funny] car, but never in my Nitro car. Bill Bader and his family operate a great facility and I can’t wait to hit the track for the first time in my Patron Toyota Camry,” she said, speaking of the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.


“We’ve done so well lately. Our team has come so far in such a short period of time,” said the Rookie of the Year candidate who visits Ohio with her family as they extend their ‘4^th of July’ celebration, taking advantage of the nearby amusement parks. “I made a couple of mistakes this past weekend, but we still managed to get to the semis. Our car is running really good and my teammate [Jeff Arend] won the race, which is awesome, so all is well for Team Kalitta!” she said, referring to last week’s NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Illinois.

Norwalk is a big race for Kalitta Motorsports, as it is the team’s ‘home track’ so friends and family will be out at the Ohio drag strip in full effect this weekend. Team Patron hopes to put on an exciting show for all their fans and drag racing first-timers making the trip over to Norwalk.

The 8,000 horsepower black-and-green stunner has been running excellent lately, but with another hot weekend coming up, Team Patron will have to overcome the challenge of what could be tricky track conditions. “Racing is always a little complicated there because it’s the middle of the summer, and the temperatures are supposed to be in the nineties [degrees] this weekend, which will make for a really tricky race track. Just like last weekend, our main focus going into the race is to really put it all out there during that Friday night qualifying session. If you don’t run well in that session, you’ll be in trouble the rest of the weekend as far as how you’re positioned,” said VP of Kalitta Motorsports’ Jim Oberhofer, referring to how the teams are paired up in Sunday’s eliminations.

“Looking at Chicago, the team deal is really starting to payoff. The two Toyota Camry Funny Cars [the Patron and DHL cars] were doing the exact same thing on every run, and with Jeff’s win and Alexis making it to the semis, it just shows how much stronger the team is getting,” he explained of the Kalitta Motorsports Funny Car strategy of having both cars tuned exactly the same. “Hopefully this week, we’ll keep going down the track, go rounds and make another final round appearance.”
The Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patron Toyota Camry Funny Car team currently sits in eleventh place on the points ladder, just 83 points away from the ‘Top Ten.’ They hope to continue to climb the rankings this weekend, July 6^th-8^th, at the 6th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Funny Car qualifying begins at 4PM on Friday afternoon.

Alexis DeJoria and the Tequila Patrόn team Wins Seattle National Championship

Alexis DeJoria Racing > 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series 24th Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals August 5th-7th, 2011

Venice, CA (August 8, 2011) - As her Top Alcohol Funny Car career winds down and her transition into the Fuel Funny Car category continues, driver Alexis DeJoria and the Tequila Patrόn team have worked countless hours to achieve their goal of visiting the winner's circle at least once this season.  Sunday afternoon in Seattle they did it.  In a history-making moment, Alexis, who is only the second woman to ever win a Top Alcohol Funny Car National event, and the Patrόn team achieved their goal at the NHRA Northwest Nationals

            "It's been five years in the making!" says Alexis. " Everything just came together for us this weekend! Every round was so crucial, and we were running so consistently. To go from not qualifying at our last race, to qualifying in the 3rd spot, and to have a consistent car in every round is just unheard of. And to do it in the second to last race [as a TAFC driver] was huge! Even though I felt confident about my car, you just never know; it's a 50/50 chance. It's so sentimental to me to have this win, especially as I'm wrapping up my Alcohol career. It feels so great to wind things down on such a positive note!"

Having almost a month off from their last race, the Patrόn crew had a chance to make some adjustments to the car, which proved to be extremely valuable. The team ran consistently quick and fast throughout qualifying, ending up number three with an elapsed time of 5.63 at 256.89 mph respectively.

 

During the first round of eliminations, Alexis made a clean, straight 5.65 at 260.11 mph pass and swept the win, advancing her to Sunday's eliminations. On Sunday morning, Alexis was up against driver and long-time friend Sean Bellemeur. "I have a ton of respect for Sean and was nervous about going up against him. It's always tough to go up against your friends" says Alexis. Although it was his best run of the weekend, he was no match for Alexis and her award-winning Tequila Patrόn car. Alexis not only won the round, but had the fastest speed of the event at 261.02 mph.

With only one other woman (Bunny Burkett) ever to have won a TAFC final round, and the fact that this was her second to last chance to ever win a National event before she moves to the Nitro Funny Car class, the pressure was on for Alexis as she made her way to the starting line. Alexis had lane choice against opponent and previous Seattle National winner, Brian Hough. With an elapsed time of 5.611 and with a speed of 260.26, Alexis was able to take the win!

 

"The feeling of winning is unreal! I was so calm going to the starting line but at the end of the race, when I realized I had won, I was overcome with emotion. I couldn't even get out of the car! I had to sit there for a second and just collect myself. Our Tequila Patrόn team has had many ups and downs throughout our three years of competing together in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class and to have an opportunity for the team to visit the winner's circle in Seattle is very gratifying for everyone who has worked so hard to achieve this NHRA Lucas Oil championship trophy" said Alexis. "To work this hard, and get through these rounds and beat these other teams that are so good and that we have so much respect for is just so humbling. It took my breath away."

About Alexis DeJoria

Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, of Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrόn Spirits is currently the Top Female Top Alcohol Funny Car Racer. Her team, Stealth Motorsports, co-operated by Alexis, is one of the few female-owned and operated teams in the industry. Alexis made racing history when she competed in the first ever 'woman vs. woman' race in her class in 2010, and she is the 2nd woman ever to win a Top Alcohol Funny Car race. Alexis is the female world record holder for the fastest and quickest speeds, and her car is currently the second fastest car in the world in the TAFC category. Alexis is also well-known for her infamous 2009 Englishtown, NJ crash.

Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about doing something she is passionate about, and she is proud to encourage and inspire young women to go after their dreams. Alexis' need for adrenaline drove her to pursue the unlikely profession of auto-racing. The determination to 'blaze her own trail' continues to drive her and push her to higher levels in the dangerous, male dominated sport of drag racing. Alexis will transition into the Nitro Funny Car category in the Fall of 2011. She will be the fourth member, and second Funny Car driver for the infamous Kalitta Motorsports team.

Alexis is originally from Los Angeles, CA and currently resides in Venice, CA.  Read Alexis' Woman Behind the Wheels feature interview on Track Chic.

Media Contact info:

Alexis DeJoria and members of Alexis DeJoria Racing are available for interview. Hi-res images available upon request. Please contact Allison McCormick at (561) 279-7827 x306 or allison@alexisdejoria.com>