Courtesy of John Force Racing
BROWNSBURG, Ind. _ John Force Racing will expand to four teams for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, and beyond, with the signing of 2014 U.S. Nationals Funny Car winner Alexis DeJoria to a multi-year contract.
The only woman currently competing in NHRA’s Funny Car category, DeJoria became the first female to break the three-second barrier in the “flopper” category when she posted a 3.997-second elapsed time at the 2014 Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. DeJoria has earned six NHRA Funny Car national event victories in 16 final-round appearances and has six top-10 finishes. DeJoria’s team will continue to carry primary sponsorship from gold medal award-winning Bandero Premium Tequila.
JFR’s 2026 driver lineup will consist of DeJoria; 2012 Funny Car World Champion “Fast” Jack Beckman; Top Fuel driver Josh Hart, signed by the 24-time world championship organization to a multi-year contract in October, and a driver to be announced for the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car.
“Being asked to join John Force Racing is a huge honor and an incredible opportunity to build upon my career,” said DeJoria, a 48-year-old native of Venice Beach, Calif. “Since Day One, my goal has been to become the sport’s first female Funny Car world champion, and that is what I have been working towards for many years.
“I’ve been fortunate to drive for some of the best teams and team-owners out here. To be invited to drive for John Force Racing means so much to me and is another step forward in my career. JFR has a Funny Car program that’s unmatched and the results speak for themselves; all you have to do is look at their track record.”
DeJoria’s NHRA career began in 2005 in Super Gas and Super Comp, winning one national event in the latter category. She moved to Top Alcohol Funny Car in 2006, ran her own team from 2009-2011 and became only the second woman to earn a national event victory in the category at the 2011 Northwest Nationals in Kent, Wash., near Seattle. Later that same year, Alexis earned her nitro Funny Car license and moved up to the professional category.
Ironically, the six-time Funny Car No. 1 qualifier posted the first round-win of her nitro career when she defeated team-owner John Force in the opening round of the 2012 Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. She captured her first Funny Car event victory at the 2014 Arizona Nationals in Phoenix and beat Force again later that year in the final round of the U.S. Nationals for the biggest win of her career.
DeJoria finished 12th in the 2025 point standings driving the Bandero Café Dodge Charger fielded by JCM Racing.
This will be the fourth time John Force Racing has fielded four teams in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. The 2008-09 lineup included the Funny Car programs of drivers “Brute” Force, Robert Hight, Ashley Force Hood and Mike Neff. John Force, Hight, Courtney Force and Brittany Force made up the foursome from 2013-2018 and, in 2019 and 2022-23, John Force and Hight competed in Funny Car while Brit Force and Austin Prock were entered in Top Fuel.
“Alexis is a fierce competitor who has earned her place in the Funny Car ranks, and it’s great to have her become the newest member of our team,” said John Force, CEO and 16-time NHRA Funny Car World Champion. “I’m obviously pretty familiar with the dynamic between father and daughter competing in NHRA drag racing, so I respect and admire what Alexis and her father, John Paul, have built together over the years.
“John Paul is a global success story who understands the importance of both family and business partnerships, which is exactly what John Force Racing has been built on. Our team just earned our 24th World Championship, but I’m already looking forward to getting started on next season.”
The schedule will begin with the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 5-8, 2026. The Gator Nats will kick-off the National Hot Rod Association’s 75th anniversary season celebration.
