THREE-TIME FUNNY CAR WINNER ALEXIS DEJORIA LOOKING TO ADD ANTOHER CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS VICTORY, Race Wild Pony
Media
CHANDLER, Ariz. – The two thousand sixteen NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series season opener at Pomona marked the 100th career Funny Car race for Alexis DeJoria, and as she goes into her fifth utter season, the three-time winner feels more comfy than ever behind the wheel of her Ten,000-horsepower Tequila Patrόn Toyota Camry.
The improvements have been noticeable via her career, but DeJoria shows up poised for her best Funny Car finish yet heading into this weekend’s CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park.
DeJoria, who finished a career-best seventh in two thousand fourteen and won the event that same season, had a strong pre-season testing session at the facility this year – something she feels has already benefited her Kalitta Motorsports team.
“Off-season testing is very significant,” said DeJoria, who went winless in 2015. “We will never skip another winter test session again. We didn’t test prior to the season in two thousand fifteen and I honestly feel like last year, I was attempting to play catch up to all the switches that were made on the car that made it react differently. That’s not the case this year. We came out very strong. Our Patrón Toyota Camry is set up very well and it’s getting down the track consistently.”
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the race. For fans watching at home, the race will be televised nationally on Fox Sports one (FS1), including Saturday qualifying coverage as well as live coverage of Sunday’s finals at five p.m. (ET). The race is the 2nd of twenty four during the two thousand sixteen season and not having to play catch up already has DeJoria thinking big.
She qualified fourth in Pomona with an exceptional Three.942-second sprint at 324.59 mph, picking up a round win in the process, and she proceeds to grow more convenient at each event, even as adjustments are made to her Camry.
“I’ve acclimated to the switches that were made at the end of last season,” DeJoria said. “The way we have our Patrón Toyota Camry set up now, it wants to take you out of the groove more so than it ever did. The thrust is a lot stronger with the fresh headers and various other switches. Now with one hundred professional Funny Car races under my belt, I feel more solid and more convenient in my Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry.”
DeJoria is also motivated after watching Kalitta Motorsports teammate Del Worsham’s championship run in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship a year ago. Already a close-knit group, DeJoria, who has continually praised the camaraderie and unity of the two Top Fuel and two Funny Car teams, learned a number of valuable lessons as Worsham clinched his very first Funny Car world championship.
It’s shoved her and the team, led by squad chief Tommy DeLago, to permanently improve and strive to do better. It’s also given DeJoria, who advanced to the Countdown for a 2nd straight year and finished eighth in 2015, a fresh list of goals to shoot for during the two thousand sixteen campaign.
“It’s amazingly motivating for not only myself, but for the entire team,” DeJoria said. “It gives us a fresh outlook on the possibilities. We know we have the goods to win races. We have a excellent team. It’s just a matter of building on the consistency that we’ve embarked the season with. Towards the end of the year, that’s when it all truly counts and that’s what the DHL team did. They built on the consistency that they had at the beginning of the season and charged hard to the very end. That’s certainly something we can learn from.
“Also, having that communication inbetween our two Funny Car teams and with Del as a driver is helpful. Del had all the fresh switches implemented on his Camry before I did. He experienced those switches and collective that information with me so I knew what to expect. Obviously you don’t know exactly what to expect until you practice it yourself, but it’s nice to have someone let you know what to look out for. Del has always been very generous with sharing information. He’s my mentor and has always been very helpful. I indeed appreciate that and I think it’ll help me perform better this year.”
While DeJoria already feels ahead of the game as compared to 2015, she’ll have to deal with a star-studded Funny Car field in Phoenix as she goes after a 2nd win at Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park.
Along with Worsham, DeJoria will face a strong lineup of challengers, including national record holder and seven-time two thousand fifteen winner Jack Beckman, 16-time world champ and eight-time Phoenix winner John Force, Tommy Johnson Jr., Ron Capps, who won the opener in Pomona, defending event winner Hagan, Courtney Force, Cruz Pedregon and Robert Hight.
“Returning to a track where we’ve been successful absolutely lifts our spirits,” DeJoria said. “Do I think because we’ve won in Phoenix before that it will make it lighter for us to win again? No, not necessarily, but our spirits are undoubtedly higher going back to a track where we have had success in the past.”
In Top Fuel, defending world champ and three-time Phoenix winner Antron Brown will battle against a harsh field of contenders including U.S. Army dragster pilot Schumacher, the defending and five-time CARQUEST Nationals winner. Other challengers include talented Aussie Richie Crampton, Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, who won the season-opening race in Pomona, J.R. Todd and Quaker State dragster driver Leah Pritchett.
Competition is expected to be fierce in the new-look NHRA Pro Stock category and two-time defending world champ Erica Enders and her fresh Dodge Dart teammate, five-time world champ Jeg Coughlin, are both past winners at Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park. Others expected to challenge for the victory in the 200-mph factory hot rod class include last year’s top rookie, Drew Skillman, raunchy Texan Chris McGaha, Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile, Bo Butner and veteran racers Allen Johnson, Greg Anderson, who won in Pomona, Jason Line, Larry Morgan and V. Gaines.
The sleek fresh Pro Stock cars will feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, vapid fetish masks and a Ten,500 RPM rev-limiter.
As always, fans will have the chance to interact with their dearest drivers as they’re granted an sensational pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique chance in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, permitting them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods inbetween rounds, and get autographs from their beloved NHRA drivers.
The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Haul Racing Series.
Mello Yello Haul Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and four p.m. on Friday, Feb. Twenty six and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 27, also at 1:30 and four p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for eleven a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids twelve and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 32nd annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, the 2nd of twenty four events in the NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to two thousand sixteen NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, Ariz. Track is located off Interstate ten at exit 162. Go after the signs.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Feb. 26-28.
FRIDAY, Feb. Twenty six – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and four p.m.
SATURDAY, Feb. 27- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and four p.m.
SUNDAY, Feb. Twenty eight – Pre-race ceremonies, ten a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at eleven a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at ten p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Feb. 28, FOX Sports one (FS1) will televise three hours of finals coverage at five p.m. (ET).
2015 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Rodger Brogdon, Pro Stock
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC- 8; Bob Glidden, PS- Five; Tony Schumacher, TF- Five; Jack Beckman, FC- Three; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC- Three; Antron Brown, TF-3; Ron Capps, FC-3; Larry Dixon, TF- Three; Cory McClenathan, TF- Trio; Darrell Alderman, PS- Three; Kurt Johnson, PS- Three; Warren Johnson, PS- Trio.
Top Fuel – Three.720 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ’15; 329.91 mph by Schumacher, Feb. ’13.
Funny Car – Three.975 sec. and 324.83 mph by Matt Hagan, Feb. ’15.
Pro Stock – 6.498 sec. and 213.77 mph by Mike Edwards, Feb. ’13.
Top Fuel – Trio.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – Three.884 sec. by Jack Beckman, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif. and 331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.
NHRA MELLO YELLO Haul RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. – Point standings (top Ten) following the very first of twenty four events in the NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series –
Top Fuel: 1. Steve Torrence, 106; Two. Doug Kalitta, 94; Trio. Richie Crampton, 77; Four. J.R. Todd, 72; Five. Clay Millican, 57; 6. Morgan Lucas, 52; 7. Antron Brown, 48; 8. Terry McMillen, 46; 9. Tony Schumacher, 42; Ten. Brittany Force, 37.
Funny Car: 1. Ron Capps, 119; Two. Del Worsham, 97; Trio. Robert Hight, 80; Four. John Force, Sixty-nine; Five. Jack Beckman, 65; 6. Courtney Force, 59; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 55; 8. Chad Head, 54; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 33; Ten. (tie) Gary Densham, 32; Matt Hagan, 32; Cruz Pedregon, 32.
Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 125; Two. Jason Line, 105; Three. Bo Butner, 84; Four. Drew Skillman, 75; Five. Vincent Nobile, 54; 6. Jeg Coughlin, 53; 7. (tie) Shane Gray, 52; Allen Johnson, 52; 9. Chris McGaha, 35; Ten. Alex Laughlin, 33.
THREE-TIME FUNNY CAR WINNER ALEXIS DEJORIA LOOKING TO ADD ANTOHER CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS VICTORY, Race Wild Pony
Media
CHANDLER, Ariz. – The two thousand sixteen NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series season opener at Pomona marked the 100th career Funny Car race for Alexis DeJoria, and as she goes into her fifth utter season, the three-time winner feels more comfy than ever behind the wheel of her Ten,000-horsepower Tequila Patrόn Toyota Camry.
The improvements have been noticeable via her career, but DeJoria shows up poised for her best Funny Car finish yet heading into this weekend’s CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park.
DeJoria, who finished a career-best seventh in two thousand fourteen and won the event that same season, had a strong pre-season testing session at the facility this year – something she feels has already benefited her Kalitta Motorsports team.
“Off-season testing is very significant,” said DeJoria, who went winless in 2015. “We will never skip another winter test session again. We didn’t test prior to the season in two thousand fifteen and I honestly feel like last year, I was attempting to play catch up to all the switches that were made on the car that made it react differently. That’s not the case this year. We came out very strong. Our Patrón Toyota Camry is set up very well and it’s getting down the track consistently.”
Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Rodger Brogdon (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the race. For fans watching at home, the race will be televised nationally on Fox Sports one (FS1), including Saturday qualifying coverage as well as live coverage of Sunday’s finals at five p.m. (ET). The race is the 2nd of twenty four during the two thousand sixteen season and not having to play catch up already has DeJoria thinking big.
She qualified fourth in Pomona with an awesome Three.942-second sprint at 324.59 mph, picking up a round win in the process, and she proceeds to grow more convenient at each event, even as adjustments are made to her Camry.
“I’ve acclimated to the switches that were made at the end of last season,” DeJoria said. “The way we have our Patrón Toyota Camry set up now, it wants to take you out of the groove more so than it ever did. The thrust is a lot stronger with the fresh headers and various other switches. Now with one hundred professional Funny Car races under my belt, I feel more solid and more convenient in my Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry.”
DeJoria is also motivated after watching Kalitta Motorsports teammate Del Worsham’s championship run in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship a year ago. Already a close-knit group, DeJoria, who has continually praised the camaraderie and unity of the two Top Fuel and two Funny Car teams, learned a number of valuable lessons as Worsham clinched his very first Funny Car world championship.
It’s shoved her and the team, led by team chief Tommy DeLago, to permanently improve and strive to do better. It’s also given DeJoria, who advanced to the Countdown for a 2nd straight year and finished eighth in 2015, a fresh list of goals to shoot for during the two thousand sixteen campaign.
“It’s amazingly motivating for not only myself, but for the entire team,” DeJoria said. “It gives us a fresh outlook on the possibilities. We know we have the goods to win races. We have a good team. It’s just a matter of building on the consistency that we’ve began the season with. Towards the end of the year, that’s when it all truly counts and that’s what the DHL team did. They built on the consistency that they had at the beginning of the season and charged hard to the very end. That’s certainly something we can learn from.
“Also, having that communication inbetween our two Funny Car teams and with Del as a driver is helpful. Del had all the fresh switches implemented on his Camry before I did. He experienced those switches and collective that information with me so I knew what to expect. Obviously you don’t know exactly what to expect until you practice it yourself, but it’s nice to have someone let you know what to look out for. Del has always been very generous with sharing information. He’s my mentor and has always been very helpful. I indeed appreciate that and I think it’ll help me perform better this year.”
While DeJoria already feels ahead of the game as compared to 2015, she’ll have to deal with a star-studded Funny Car field in Phoenix as she goes after a 2nd win at Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park.
Along with Worsham, DeJoria will face a strong lineup of challengers, including national record holder and seven-time two thousand fifteen winner Jack Beckman, 16-time world champ and eight-time Phoenix winner John Force, Tommy Johnson Jr., Ron Capps, who won the opener in Pomona, defending event winner Hagan, Courtney Force, Cruz Pedregon and Robert Hight.
“Returning to a track where we’ve been successful absolutely lifts our spirits,” DeJoria said. “Do I think because we’ve won in Phoenix before that it will make it lighter for us to win again? No, not necessarily, but our spirits are certainly higher going back to a track where we have had success in the past.”
In Top Fuel, defending world champ and three-time Phoenix winner Antron Brown will battle against a rough field of contenders including U.S. Army dragster pilot Schumacher, the defending and five-time CARQUEST Nationals winner. Other challengers include talented Aussie Richie Crampton, Brittany Force, Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, who won the season-opening race in Pomona, J.R. Todd and Quaker State dragster driver Leah Pritchett.
Competition is expected to be fierce in the new-look NHRA Pro Stock category and two-time defending world champ Erica Enders and her fresh Dodge Dart teammate, five-time world champ Jeg Coughlin, are both past winners at Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park. Others expected to challenge for the victory in the 200-mph factory hot rod class include last year’s top rookie, Drew Skillman, rough Texan Chris McGaha, Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile, Bo Butner and veteran racers Allen Johnson, Greg Anderson, who won in Pomona, Jason Line, Larry Morgan and V. Gaines.
The sleek fresh Pro Stock cars will feature fuel-injected engines, shorter wheelie bars, vapid rubber hoods and a Ten,500 RPM rev-limiter.
As always, fans will have the chance to interact with their dearest drivers as they’re granted an off the hook pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique chance in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, permitting them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods inbetween rounds, and get autographs from their dearest NHRA drivers.
The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Haul Racing Series.
Mello Yello Haul Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and four p.m. on Friday, Feb. Twenty six and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 27, also at 1:30 and four p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for eleven a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28.
To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Kids twelve and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA NATIONALS FACT SHEET
WHAT: 32nd annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, the 2nd of twenty four events in the NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to two thousand sixteen NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series world championships.
WHERE: Wild Pony Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, Ariz. Track is located off Interstate ten at exit 162. Go after the signs.
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Feb. 26-28.
FRIDAY, Feb. Twenty six – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and four p.m.
SATURDAY, Feb. 27- LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations
MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1:30 and four p.m.
SUNDAY, Feb. Twenty eight – Pre-race ceremonies, ten a.m.
MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at eleven a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27, FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying coverage at ten p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Feb. 28, FOX Sports one (FS1) will televise three hours of finals coverage at five p.m. (ET).
2015 EVENT WINNERS: Tony Schumacher, Top Fuel; Matt Hagan, Funny Car; Rodger Brogdon, Pro Stock
MOST VICTORIES: John Force, FC- 8; Bob Glidden, PS- Five; Tony Schumacher, TF- Five; Jack Beckman, FC- Three; Kenny Bernstein, TF-FC- Three; Antron Brown, TF-3; Ron Capps, FC-3; Larry Dixon, TF- Trio; Cory McClenathan, TF- Trio; Darrell Alderman, PS- Three; Kurt Johnson, PS- Trio; Warren Johnson, PS- Three.
Top Fuel – Three.720 sec. by Tony Schumacher, Feb. ’15; 329.91 mph by Schumacher, Feb. ’13.
Funny Car – Three.975 sec. and 324.83 mph by Matt Hagan, Feb. ’15.
Pro Stock – 6.498 sec. and 213.77 mph by Mike Edwards, Feb. ’13.
Top Fuel – Three.680 sec. by Antron Brown, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.; 332.75 mph by Spencer Massey, Aug. ’15, Brainerd, Minn.
Funny Car – Three.884 sec. by Jack Beckman, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif. and 331.45 mph by Matt Hagan, Nov. ’15, Pomona, Calif.
Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C. and 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.
TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets also available online at www.NHRA.com/tickets.
NHRA MELLO YELLO Haul RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
GLENDORA, Calif. – Point standings (top Ten) following the very first of twenty four events in the NHRA Mello Yello Haul Racing Series –
Top Fuel: 1. Steve Torrence, 106; Two. Doug Kalitta, 94; Trio. Richie Crampton, 77; Four. J.R. Todd, 72; Five. Clay Millican, 57; 6. Morgan Lucas, 52; 7. Antron Brown, 48; 8. Terry McMillen, 46; 9. Tony Schumacher, 42; Ten. Brittany Force, 37.
Funny Car: 1. Ron Capps, 119; Two. Del Worsham, 97; Three. Robert Hight, 80; Four. John Force, Sixty-nine; Five. Jack Beckman, 65; 6. Courtney Force, 59; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 55; 8. Chad Head, 54; 9. Tim Wilkerson, 33; Ten. (tie) Gary Densham, 32; Matt Hagan, 32; Cruz Pedregon, 32.
Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 125; Two. Jason Line, 105; Three. Bo Butner, 84; Four. Drew Skillman, 75; Five. Vincent Nobile, 54; 6. Jeg Coughlin, 53; 7. (tie) Shane Gray, 52; Allen Johnson, 52; 9. Chris McGaha, 35; Ten. Alex Laughlin, 33.
