Nitro Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria of Austin, Texas will be heading to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway weekend when the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) returns to action for the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.
DeJoria, who drives the ROKiT Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota Camry on the NHRA Funny Car circuit, is hoping to capitalize on past success at Las Vegas in hopes of scoring her first career four-wide national event win.
DeJoria recorded victories at Las Vegas in 2014 against Robert Hight and in 2016 against Del Worsham before the track underwent a major reconstruction to add two additional lanes.
“I am looking forward to racing Vegas because it will be my first Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip,” DeJoria said. “I’ve had success there before but I have never won an actual four-wide race yet. My dad turned 80 this week on the 13th and he will be at the races. I would love to give him a Wally as a present.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the NHRA did not hold a Four-Wide race in 2020. DeJoria’s best performance in four-wide competition was 2014 when she raced to the final quad at the Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway in Charlotte.
This season DeJoria kicked off the year in Gainesville, Fla. at the Gatornationals by qualifying No. 2 in her ROKiT Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota Funny Car with a pass clocked at 3.914 seconds. She ended up advancing to the quarterfinals and was led by crew chiefs Del Worsham and Nicky Boninfante.
“Del and Nicky work so well together and they have an amazing handle on the tune-up on this Toyota Funny Car,” DeJoria said. “When I get strapped in I know I am going to have a great shot at a top qualifying spot or a round win. Having them on my team lets me focus on my job as a driver. This whole ROKiT Bandero Premium Tequila team really came together down the home stretch of last season and we got off to a solid start in Gainesville. I am expecting great things this season starting in Las Vegas.”
After not competing for two race seasons, DeJoria finished the 2020 campaign with five consecutive top-five qualifying starts. She opened the season with a strong start at the Gaternationals and has managed to avoid any first round losses over the last six races, scoring all semifinal finishes. DeJoria has five career victories with her last one coming at Brainerd in 2017 where she defeated Tommy Johnson Jr. Her victory was the 250th for women in the NHRA.
Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were winners of the 2019 Four-Wide event, which was the last time this race format was held at Las Vegas. In addition to Funny Car, the Top Fuel, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles will also compete on this weekend’s race card. The event will also feature competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.
NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, April 16, with the two final rounds slated for 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 18. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 16, and eliminations beginning at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 18 on FS1.
NHRA officials said that all grandstand tickets have been sold for the weekend, as state and local officials allowed the track to host fans at 50-percent for the race in Las Vegas.
