Following last weekend’s runner-up finish at the NHRA Carolina Nationals near Charlotte, Top 10-ranked Funny Car competitor Alexis DeJoria was looking to carry that momentum into another long Sunday of going rounds at the NHRA Midwest Nationals, the third of six Countdown to the Championship playoff events.
The Bandero Premium Tequila team struggled to get their footing through the first two rounds of qualifying at World Wide Technology Raceway, but in the final session, DeJoria stepped up big time when she powered her Toyota GR Supra Funny Car to a 3.914 E.T. and launched from 15th up to the No. 7 qualifying position. DeJoria drew her fellow Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate, J.R. Todd, as her first opponent in what NHRA had selected to be their Funny Car ‘marquee match-up.’ DeJoria carried a 3-0 record in 2022 against Todd, including her most recent round-win versus her opponent when she defeated him in the opening session at last week’s Charlotte event. Aboard their GR Supras, the two drivers clocked identical 3.928 E.T.s but Todd’s slight starting line advantage helped propel him to the win against DeJoria for the first time this year, ending her day after the first round.
“Coming off of a strong showing in Charlotte, we had high hopes for this weekend in St. Louis, but unfortunately, we lost first round,” said DeJoria, a six-time Funny Car event champion. “We’ve got a great car, a strong team, and it’s not over yet. On the bright side, we’re still leaving here in the No. 6 spot in points going into Dallas.”
Despite the early exit, DeJoria was able to maintain her sixth-place ranking when Todd, Tim Wilkerson, and Cruz Pedregon were all eliminated in the quarterfinals. DeJoria and the DC Motorsports team compete next at the Texas NHRA FallNationals, Oct. 14-16.
Qualified: No. 7 (3.914 E.T. at 332.67 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.928 E.T. at 328.62 MPH defeated by J.R. Todd 3.928 E.T. at 318.24 MPH
NHRA Camping World Series Funny Car Point Standings (unofficial):
| 1 | Robert Hight | 2404 | |
| 2 | Ron Capps | 2358 | |
| 3 | Matt Hagan | 2301 | |
| 4 | John Force | 2290 | |
| 5 | Bob Tasca III | 2234 | |
| 6 | Alexis DeJoria | 2187 | |
| 7 | J.R. Todd | 2185 | |
| 8 | Tim Wilkerson | 2175 | |
| 9 | Cruz Pedregon | 2159 | |
| 10 | Jim Campbell | 2085 | |
| 11 | Blake Alexander | 2064 |
ABM Communications PR
