BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria reached the final round in her John Force Racing debut two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway and, having earned her first career NHRA Funny Car victory at Firebird Motorsports in 2014, the driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car has every confidence she can pick up another Wally at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.
DeJoria and her Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg team took out Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde and JR Todd enroute to the runner-up finish against Chad Green at this year’s Gatornationals. The three round wins in the 2026 NHRA season-opening event brought her career total to 198 heading into this weekend’s Arizona Nationals.
Her run to victory at the 2014 Arizona Nationals was even more impressive. After a first-round victory over Jeff Arend, the six-time NHRA Funny Car winner bowled over two of her biggest racing heroes – Del Worsham in the second round and current team owner and 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force in the semis. Those two major wins set up the final-round matchup against eventual three-time Funny Car Champion Robert Hight, where she ran 4.043 seconds at 309.63 mph while Hight’s John Force Racing entry lost traction and spun the tires.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.
Quotes
What did it mean to you to get to the finals at Gainesville in your John Force Racing debut?
“It was absolutely wonderful to be able to get to the final round at Gainesville in our very first race with John Force Racing. It had been two years since I’d been to a final so just the way our Bandero team already works so well with the other JFR teams, the camaraderie, the knowledge and expertise is just unmatched gives us a great base to build on heading to Phoenix.”
What was it like beating your drag racing heroes to win your first career Wally at Phoenix?
“Getting my first career Funny Car win in Phoenix in 2014 was such a major deal because I beat my heroes, John Force and Del Worsham, to get there. Those are some huge names there but, my gosh, you’ve got to beat the best to be the best. Going back to Phoenix with the success I’ve had there in the past and what we already have with the current Bandero team, there’s an even greater confidence level in just knowing the racetrack, its little quirks here and there. I was also part of the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty race there, which we’re a part of this week, is a hell of a confidence booster.”
Are you able to detach from racing between NHRA events or do you stay in the zone?
“I’d say that the day after, I don’t even unpack my bags. I try to take 24 hours off. You get maxed out on race weekends. It’s hard going rounds. It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically, but my mind is never far from that race car. I mean, I eat, sleep and dream racing.”
How do you prepare for going into a weekend you know is going to be very hot?
“It’s just mind over matter. Luckily, we’re not in these cars for hours and hours at a time, so I can’t complain too much. It just takes a lot of meditation and some serious breathing exercises and lots of time in the fresh air.”
Stats
| Alexis DeJoria | Race Result | Qualified | Event Round Record |
| 2011 (FC) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2012 (FC) | DNQ | 17th | 0-0 |
| 2013 (FC) | 1st round | 11th | 0-1 |
| 2014 (FC) | Winner | 4th | 4-1 |
| 2015 (FC) | Semi-finals | 4th | 6-2 |
| 2016 (FC) | 1st round | 11th | 6-3 |
| 2017 (FC) | 1st round | 10th | 6-4 |
| 2018 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2020(FC) | 1st round | 10th | 6-5 |
| 2021 (FC) | NHRA Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 (FC) | 2nd round | 9th | 7-6 |
| 2023 (FC) | Semi-finals | 2nd | 9-7 |
| 2024 (FC) | Runner-up | 15th | 12-8 |
| 2025 (FC) | 1st round | 6th | 12-9 |
Starts:
Wins: 1 (2014) ***1st Career Win
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 12-9
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
DEJORIA FOCUSED ON FIRST JFR WIN AT SITE OF FIRST CAREER WIN
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (MARCH 18, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria reached the final round in her John Force Racing debut two weeks ago at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway and, having earned her first career NHRA Funny Car victory at Firebird Motorsports in 2014, the driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Chevrolet SS Funny Car has every confidence she can pick up another Wally at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs.
DeJoria and her Mike Neff / Jonnie Lindberg team took out Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde and JR Todd enroute to the runner-up finish against Chad Green at this year’s Gatornationals. The three round wins in the 2026 NHRA season-opening event brought her career total to 198 heading into this weekend’s Arizona Nationals.
Her run to victory at the 2014 Arizona Nationals was even more impressive. After a first-round victory over Jeff Arend, the six-time NHRA Funny Car winner bowled over two of her biggest racing heroes – Del Worsham in the second round and current team owner and 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force in the semis. Those two major wins set up the final-round matchup against eventual three-time Funny Car Champion Robert Hight, where she ran 4.043 seconds at 309.63 mph while Hight’s John Force Racing entry lost traction and spun the tires.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car point standings after 1 of 20 races are: Chad Green, 115; Alexis DeJoria, 93; J.R. Todd, 82; Jordan Vandergriff, 71; Matt Hagan, 59; Daniel Wilkerson, 56; John Smith, 51; Spencer Hyde, 51, Ron Capps, 41; Paul Lee, 37.
Quotes
What did it mean to you to get to the finals at Gainesville in your John Force Racing debut?
“It was absolutely wonderful to be able to get to the final round at Gainesville in our very first race with John Force Racing. It had been two years since I’d been to a final so just the way our Bandero team already works so well with the other JFR teams, the camaraderie, the knowledge and expertise is just unmatched gives us a great base to build on heading to Phoenix.”
What was it like beating your drag racing heroes to win your first career Wally at Phoenix?
“Getting my first career Funny Car win in Phoenix in 2014 was such a major deal because I beat my heroes, John Force and Del Worsham, to get there. Those are some huge names there but, my gosh, you’ve got to beat the best to be the best. Going back to Phoenix with the success I’ve had there in the past and what we already have with the current Bandero team, there’s an even greater confidence level in just knowing the racetrack, its little quirks here and there. I was also part of the inaugural Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty race there, which we’re a part of this week, is a hell of a confidence booster.”
Are you able to detach from racing between NHRA events or do you stay in the zone?
“I’d say that the day after, I don’t even unpack my bags. I try to take 24 hours off. You get maxed out on race weekends. It’s hard going rounds. It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically, but my mind is never far from that race car. I mean, I eat, sleep and dream racing.”
How do you prepare for going into a weekend you know is going to be very hot?
“It’s just mind over matter. Luckily, we’re not in these cars for hours and hours at a time, so I can’t complain too much. It just takes a lot of meditation and some serious breathing exercises and lots of time in the fresh air.”
Stats
| Alexis DeJoria | Race Result | Qualified | Event Round Record |
| 2011 (FC) | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2012 (FC) | DNQ | 17th | 0-0 |
| 2013 (FC) | 1st round | 11th | 0-1 |
| 2014 (FC) | Winner | 4th | 4-1 |
| 2015 (FC) | Semi-finals | 4th | 6-2 |
| 2016 (FC) | 1st round | 11th | 6-3 |
| 2017 (FC) | 1st round | 10th | 6-4 |
| 2018 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2020(FC) | 1st round | 10th | 6-5 |
| 2021 (FC) | NHRA Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A |
| 2022 (FC) | 2nd round | 9th | 7-6 |
| 2023 (FC) | Semi-finals | 2nd | 9-7 |
| 2024 (FC) | Runner-up | 15th | 12-8 |
| 2025 (FC) | 1st round | 6th | 12-9 |
Starts:
Wins: 1 (2014) ***1st Career Win
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Round Record: 12-9
Track & TV Schedules
Friday and Saturday qualifying is at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. PDT. Sunday eliminations are slated for 10 a.m.
Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday, leading into eliminations at 6:30 p.m. ET.