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DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (June 25, 2013)â Coming off of two back-to-back race weekends in Bristol, Tenn. and Epping, N.H., the Tequila Patron Toyota Camry Funny Car team is full speed ahead as they prepare for the 16th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill. this weekend, June 28-30.
While the past two races were not as successful as the Kalitta Motorsports black-and-green Patron-backed team would have hoped, the vibe remains positive going into this weekend’s race. “These stretches of nonstop races are pretty grueling, but to be honest, we’re all so amped to pick up that elusive first win that we like to get back out on the track right away and have another shot at it. We”re all working so hard, and want it so bad. Every weekend that we get back out on the race track we feel a renewed sense of energy and are eager to start each race fresh and on a positive note,” said Alexis DeJoria, pilot of the 10,000 horsepower Patron hot rod.
“In Epping we struggled with dropping cylinders, and that plagued us all weekend, only allowing us to run in the 4.20″s [seconds, elapsed time]. Thankfully, Tommy [DeLago, crew chief] and the guys figured out what the issue was and we”re all looking forward what will hopefully be a weekend filled with fast, consistent runs. We went to the semi-finals in Chicago last year and we”re looking to one-up ourselves at Route 66 Raceway this year.”
Prior to the race weekend, DeJoria will have the honor of throwing out the ceremonial “first pitch” at the Chicago White Sox game on Wednesday, June 26 at 7:10PM, when the Sox take on the Mets at U.S. Cellular Field. “I’m excited to throw out the first pitch. This is such an incredibly opportunity and something I”ve wanted to do for a long time. I’m looking forward to representing not only Team Patron, but Kalitta Motorsports and the NHRA at the game, and perhaps draw some new fans out to the races this weekend.”
Alexis DeJoria and the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patron Toyota Camry Funny Car team begin qualifying for the Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Joliet, Ill., at 5:15PM on Friday, June 28. For more information, please visit www.alexisdejoria.com. Follow us on Twitter: @ADR_Nitro771 and Like Us on Facebook: Alexis DeJoria. Be sure to tune in to the “Alexis DeJoria NHRA Racing Report” every Friday at 1PM EST on RaceTalkRadio.com.
TV Schedule
Qualifying
June 29, 6:30PM-8PM EST
June 29, 11PM-12AM EST
ESPN2
Eliminations
June 30, 9PM-12AM EST
ESPN2
About Alexis DeJoria
Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and proud owner of Tequila Patron, is a professional NHRA race car driver, competing in the nitro Funny Car class on the Kalitta Motorsports team. Alexis drives a Tequila PatrÏn-sponsored 2013 Toyota Camry. Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about following her passion, and her need for adrenaline drove her to pursue the unlikely profession of auto-racing. The determination to “blaze her own trail” continues to drive her and push her to higher levels in male dominated sport of drag racing.
About Kalitta Motorsports
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Kalitta Motorsports is a Top Fuel and Funny Car drag racing team in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The team was founded and is owned by drag racing icon Connie “the Bounty Hunter” Kalitta. For more than 50 years, Connie has been involved in the sport as a driver, tuner, and an owner. Kalitta Motorsports is one of the most successful teams in the history of auto racing with five world championships and over 50 national event titles in five different professional drag racing sanctioning bodies since it was established by Connie in 1959.