DEJORIA LOOKING TO JUMP START CHAMPIONSHIP RUN IN CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE, NC (September 16, 2021) — Six races remain in the 2021 NHRA Countdown and this weekend’s DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway will be nine-time Funny Car finalist Alexis DeJoria’s chance to close the gap on the points leader. The Bandero Premium Tequila ROKiT Toyota Camry Funny Car team closed out the 2020 season on a strong run and recreating that successful run is doable for this experienced team. This season DeJoria’s Funny Car has posted some of the quickest times in qualifying and has raced to the final round at the Mile-High Nationals in Denver as well as five semifinals.

“There is no doubt our Funny Car can run with anyone,” said DeJoria. “This Bandero ROKiT Toyota Camry gives me a lot of confidence when it rolls up to the starting line. We have been talking about it for a couple races, but we just need to make some of our own luck. There are six races left in the playoffs and that is plenty of time to start getting wins and moving up in the points.”

<IMG_3323.jpg>

This weekend will be DeJoria’s seventh appearance at the Carolina Nationals. In two of her previous three races at the track located in the heart of NASCAR country she advanced to the semifinals. In 2014 she scored her second career No. 1 qualifier at the Bruton Smith owned racetrack. From 2013-2017 she started as the No. 5 qualifier twice as well as No. 4 and No. 1 qualifier once each.

“This is a quick and fast track,” said DeJoria. “We were the No. 2 qualifier at the four-wide nationals earlier this season and raced to the final quad. Del (Worsham) and Nicky (Boninfante) are doing a great job with the tune up and I know it is just a matter of time until we get our first win of the season.”

Looking ahead to the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals DeJoria is sitting No. 8 in the Funny Car standings. The five-time Funny Car national event winner is five rounds out of first place with the addition of a handful of qualifying bonus points which the team regularly collects. Three solid qualifying runs combined with round wins against some Countdown contending Funny Cars on Sunday would easily move DeJoria and the Bandero Tequila ROKiT team well into the top four or five with five races left in the playoffs. Last season over the last four races she qualified No. 5 or better at every race and raced to the semifinals at three of those races.

“We have a stretch of races at tracks where I have had success in the past and that gives any driver confidence,” said DeJoria. “This team has been working together all season with one common goal to get that Funny Car championship. We are in a position to do just that and we need to dig deep and stay focused.”

Qualifying for the DeWalt NHRA Carolina Nationals begins with one session under the lights at 7:15 p.m. on Friday night with two more qualifying sessions on Saturday afternoon. Eliminations will begin on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET with the race being broadcast nationally on Fox.