The Bandero Premium Tequila ROKiT Toyota Camry Funny Car team knew they had all the pieces they needed to win at the highest level this season. Strong performances throughout the early part of the season showed driver Alexis DeJoria what her team was capable of and a runner-up finish at the Mile-High Nationals in July fired up the organization. Everything fell into place two weeks ago when the veteran driver qualified No. 1 and then took care of business on race day turning on four win lights on the way to DeJoria’s sixth career Nitro Funny Car win and her first win with her new team that started together in 2020.
The win was significant for DeJoria and her young team as they built an organization from the ground up. In 2020 they closed out the season with strong performances and several low qualifying efforts. This season they recorded six No. 2 qualifiers before they started No. 1 at the Thunder Valley Nationals. To take the victory from the top spot made for an emotional weekend all around.
“I would say it’s one of the biggest (wins) because as a part-team owner definitely,” said DeJoria. “Coming back after taking the two years off and getting to work with my mentor, old teammate and friend in Del Worsham. I look up to him and I learned everything I know from Del. To be able to do this with him again and do something we couldn’t do at Kalitta when he ended up driving the other car.”
With two races left in the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series DeJoria is locked into the Top Ten but now with a win under her belt she knows they have a race car that can compete to close out the season. She has two previous wins at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway getting wins in 2016 and 2014 at the annual spring national event. A win at the fall race would make her the eighth Funny Car driver to win both annual NHRA national events at Bruton Smith’s desert jewel racetrack.
Tony Fay PR
