Team Patrón Looking for Strong Start Going Into the Homestretch

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (September 10, 2013)— It’s down to the homestretch of the 24-race 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series. With just six races left, Alexis DeJoria and the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car team are looking to close out the season strong. Coming off of their season best run in Indianapolis earlier this month (4.036-seconds at 312.35-mph), the Patrón team looks to carry that momentum in to Charlotte, N.C. as they get ready to compete in the 6^th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway this weekend.

In her short two year career as a nitro Funny Car pilot, DeJoria, who spent six years in the NHRA’s sportsman classes learning the ropes before hopping into the seat of a nitro-fueled machine, has amassed a visit to the finals, four semi-final appearances, and qualifying bonus points to her list of accomplishments. The Patrón team, which has experienced their fair share of ups and downs, is looking to add a win to that growing list, and they feel that this weekend could be their time.

“Without the pressure of trying to get into the Countdown, we’re able to focus all of our efforts on picking up that first win,” said DeJoria. “Winning of course has always been the goal, but now that the cutoff for the Countdown has come and gone, it’s now our only goal. Our eyes are on the prize. Tommy [DeLago, crew chief and 2011 Funny Car world champion tuner] has had good luck at the Charlotte track in the past. Judging from our Indy runs- not just the race, but also the test session that week prior- I think we’ve made some really good headway. We’ve learned a lot and Indy proved that we have a great car and a combination that can win races. Our last two runs at Indy [Q4 and E1] were among the quickest of the whole Funny Car class, which is promising.”

“Charlotte kicks off the first of four back-to-back races and we’re hoping that we’ll start off strong in this one and that will set the tone for the rest of the season. We’re going into this weekend hoping for the best. We’re looking to qualify well, go some rounds on Sunday, and quite possibly win our first race. I can’t wait for the day when Team Patrón is standing together celebrating in the Winner’s Circle. I’m confident that day will be sooner, rather than later.”

The Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car team begins qualifying for the ­6^th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at 5:15PM on Friday, September 13. For more information, please visit www.alexisdejoria.com. Follow us on Twitter: @ADR_Nitro771 and Like Us on Facebook: Alexis DeJoria. 

TV Schedule

Qualifying

September 14, TBD

ESPN2

Eliminations

September 15, 8:30PM-11:30PM 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 Patrόn, is a professional NHRA race car driver, competing in the nitro Funny Car class on the Kalitta Motorsports team. Alexis drives a Tequila Patrόn-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.