BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria and the John Force Racing Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team know the NHRA Countdown to the Championship is the time to get hot and it all starts with the Sept. 18-20 inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
The six-time NHRA Funny Car event winner enters the Countdown seventh in the 2026 point standings. She and the Mike Neff/Jonnie Lindberg-led team are just 27 points behind J.R. Todd in fifth place and 76 back of point leader Matt Hagan. The first-year John Force Racing team earned two final-round appearances (Gainesville, Chicago), 15 round wins and 10 Top 8 qualifying positions in the 14-race regular season.
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is the first of three consecutive weekends of racing to open the six-event 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The balance of the Countdown includes: the Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock; Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals; Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals; and Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 14 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,109; 2. Ron Capps, 2,092; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,075; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,074; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,060; 6. Austin Prock, 2,055; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,033; 8. Chad Green, 2,023; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,013; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,000.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on a new facility to the series opening the Countdown to the Championship?
“I’m excited to race at a new track I’ve never even been to let alone race at. It’s great for the sport and for the fans to have a new market added to the series. It shows the strength of the series and should be a great event to start the Countdown to the Championship.”
What are your thoughts on three weekends in a row to start the Countdown to the Championship?
“I believe having back-to-back-to-back race weekends to start the Countdown keeps the drivers and teams sharp. It’s a grind, no doubt, but the Bandero Café team will get in a rhythm so I’m looking forward to it.”
How does the team’s focus shift after the points reset and just six races to the championship?
“The Bandero Café team has a great opportunity to make it happen, to win our first race of the season and finish the season strong. Now’s the time to get hot.”
Appearances
DeJoria will be signing autographs Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.
2026 Results
BANDERO CAFÉ TEAM ENTERS COUNTDOWN IN 7TH PLACE
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria and the John Force Racing Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team know the NHRA Countdown to the Championship is the time to get hot and it all starts with the Sept. 18-20 inaugural NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
The six-time NHRA Funny Car event winner enters the Countdown seventh in the 2026 point standings. She and the Mike Neff/Jonnie Lindberg-led team are just 27 points behind J.R. Todd in fifth place and 76 back of point leader Matt Hagan. The first-year John Force Racing team earned two final-round appearances (Gainesville, Chicago), 15 round wins and 10 Top 8 qualifying positions in the 14-race regular season.
The NHRA Great Lakes Nationals is the first of three consecutive weekends of racing to open the six-event 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The balance of the Countdown includes: the Sept. 25-27 NHRA Nationals at The Rock; Oct. 2-4 NHRA Midwest Nationals; Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA Fall Nationals; Oct. 29-Nov. 1 NHRA Las Vegas Nationals; and Nov. 13-15 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 14 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,109; 2. Ron Capps, 2,092; 3. Jack Beckman, 2,075; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,074; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,060; 6. Austin Prock, 2,055; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,033; 8. Chad Green, 2,023; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,013; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,000.
Quotes
What are your thoughts on a new facility to the series opening the Countdown to the Championship?
“I’m excited to race at a new track I’ve never even been to let alone race at. It’s great for the sport and for the fans to have a new market added to the series. It shows the strength of the series and should be a great event to start the Countdown to the Championship.”
What are your thoughts on three weekends in a row to start the Countdown to the Championship?
“I believe having back-to-back-to-back race weekends to start the Countdown keeps the drivers and teams sharp. It’s a grind, no doubt, but the Bandero Café team will get in a rhythm so I’m looking forward to it.”
How does the team’s focus shift after the points reset and just six races to the championship?
“The Bandero Café team has a great opportunity to make it happen, to win our first race of the season and finish the season strong. Now’s the time to get hot.”
Appearances
DeJoria will be signing autographs Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30-10 a.m. at the Cornwell Tools midway display.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 18 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 20.
TV Schedule
Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday before eliminations action at 2 p.m.
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 11 | Beat Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde, J.R. Todd; lost to Chad Green | 3-1 | 2 |
| Phoenix | 12 | Lost Jordan Vandergriff | 3-2 | 6 |
| Pomona1 | 7 | Beat Dave Richards; lost to Ron Capps | 4-3 | 7 |
| Charlotte | 5 | Won 1st Quad; lost 2nd quad | 5-4 | 6 |
| Valdosta | 10 | Beat Cruz Pedregon, Matt Hagan; lost to J.R. Todd | 7-5 | 6 |
| Chicago | 12 | Beat Spencer Hyde, Dave Richards, Matt Hagan; lost to Chad Green | 10-6 | 6 |
| Maryland | 7 | Lost to Ron Capps | 10-7 | 6 |
| Epping | 3 | Beat Cruz Pedregon; lost to Ron Capps | 11-8 | 7 |
| Bristol | 2 | Lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 11-9 | 7 |
| Norwalk | 2 | Beat Blake Alexander, Chad Green; lost to Ron Capps | 13-10 | 7 |
| Sonoma | 7 | Lost to Cruz Pedregon | 13-11 | 7 |
| Seattle | 3 | Lost to Dave Richards | 13-12 | 8 |
| Brainerd | 8 | Beat Dave Richards; lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 14-13 | 8 |
| Indianapolis | 6 | Beat Chad Green; lost to Jack Beckman | 15-14 | 7 |