Alexis DeJoria needed to experience nitro before she would discuss her plans with anyone. That’s why she refused to speak publicly or on the record before making her first runs in a nitro-burning Funny Car on September 27 at the Texas Motorplex located outside of Dallas, Texas.

There were no press releases – not even an ESPN interview. Requests for interviews to her publicist were met with, “She’ll talk about anything but nitro.”

Then DeJoria, heir to billion dollar hair care company Paul Mitchell Systems, experienced her first nitro cackle and life will never be the same.

“Launching [the car] wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought it was going to be,” De Joria explained in her first interview which she granted to Attitude’s Competitionplus.com. “I could see a lot clearer leaving the starting line. Leaving the line in my alcohol car can sometimes be more violent. With that car, you leave the line at 7,000 rpm, so there’s a lot more vibration.

Alexis DeJoria needed to experience nitro before she would discuss her plans with anyone. That’s why she refused to speak publicly or on the record before making her first runs in a nitro-burning Funny Car on September 27 at the Texas Motorplex located outside of Dallas, Texas.

There were no press releases – not even an ESPN interview. Requests for interviews to her publicist were met with, “She’ll talk about anything but nitro.”

Then DeJoria, heir to billion dollar hair care company Paul Mitchell Systems, experienced her first nitro cackle and life will never be the same.

“Launching [the car] wasn’t as big of a deal as I thought it was going to be,” De Joria explained in her first interview which she granted to Attitude’s Competitionplus.com. “I could see a lot clearer leaving the starting line. Leaving the line in my alcohol car can sometimes be more violent. With that car, you leave the line at 7,000 rpm, so there’s a lot more vibration.

“What really thrilled me and got my attention was when the clutch came in at about 300 feet. That was where I really noticed the difference. It was as if you are being propelled into another whole new run. It was a great experience and fun. The first run left me with a permanent smile as I hoped it would.”

DeJoria is in good hands under the guidance of Del Worsham and his father Chuck. They brought out the family’s retired Funny Car and in one day upgraded her license from alcohol to nitro with a 4.18 best elapsed time.

“It felt good and felt right,” said DeJoria, who to this point in her career has Worsham to put alongside of Alcohol Funny Car legend Bob Newberry as two of the driving forces behind her ever-increasing talent level.

“What Del is doing for me is the same as what Bob Newberry did for me when I was coming up in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Each one of them has helped me to make big leaps because they have experience in not only driving but also tuning their own cars. If you want to learn, those are the best kinds of teachers to have. You go up there to drive with the confidence that you are in good hands at all times. That kind of help is priceless.”

DeJoria noted what she was learning from Del and his father was the importance of attention to detail.

“It’s cool to see the engine transformation over from alcohol to nitro … to hear the cackle,” DeJoria beamed. “It was awesome. I had a smile on my face the whole time.”


Smile aside, DeJoria refused to allow fear to enter the picture though she’ll readily admit there’s a big difference between fear and respect.

The dangers of drag racing had already presented itself during the 2009 NHRA Super Nationals in Englishtown, NJ, when a parachute failure sent her Top Alcohol Funny Car careening into the Raceway Park containment system. A year later a lesser crash killed one of her fellow TAFC racers teaching her a strong lesson about respect versus fear.

“I wasn’t worried about my safety,” said DeJoria of her nitro experience. “If stuff is going to happen, it’s going to happen. I have no control over that.”

It was that same courageous attitude which inspired her to step from a cushy life into the perils of drag racing instead of taking over the family business. This wasn’t an idea immediately embraced by her famous father, John Paul DeJoria, of Paul Mitchell Systems, and Patrón Tequila.

“He initially didn’t like the idea of the Funny Car,” DeJoria admitted. “But by that time I had already invested money in the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School. I was pretty much already on my way there when I had the conversation with him. He was a little freaked out until I introduced him to Ashley [Force-Hood] later. She made him feel a lot better.”

DeJoria understands she has a long road to travel before even considering racing nitro. Her comfort zone will be in making 50 passes with Worsham over the next few months and in some of the 2011 organized nitro test sessions.

“I’m trying to get them in over the winter because I might race a few nitro events next season,” DeJoria explained. “We’re just going to see how everything goes because the car feels great. It’s such a cool ride and it would be really exciting. I’m still focused on getting my first win in an alcohol car.”

DeJoria sees herself walking a similar pathway as Indy car sensation Danica Patrick with her NASCAR Nationwide experimentation.

“I think it would be a good idea just to get my feet wet,” DeJoria said. “I don’t really want to go full bore. I just want to take my time and get experience. It’s just a thought. But for now, we are just making runs and having fun. I have the hard part out of the way now - getting my license.”

Worsham’s advice will go a long way with DeJoria in determining when the time is right. He is, as she believes, more than just a person teaching her how to race nitro.

“He has been through everything and raced for so long that I just feel comfortable with him,” DeJoria said. “He’s very personable and takes the time to explain everything. I don’t feel any kind of negativity. He’s a cool guy who won’t sugarcoat anything. He’s more like a brother would be. I was totally comfortable with Del and his dad – a family atmosphere.”

As she learns the in and outs of driving a Funny Car, Dejoria will be headed exactly in the direction she has always wanted to go.

“This was always the plan,” confirmed DeJoria. “I can tell you the jump from Super Comp to alcohol Funny Car was way bigger than alcohol to nitro. That was w-a-a-a-a-y bigger. I was so happy for those previous years in preparing me for nitro.”

And for now, she’s not ready to commit to anything and the time frame for her nitro career is as uncertain as who she’ll be racing with despite those internet message board suggestions determining her fate.

“I don’t have any alliances yet. I’ve talked to a few people. I am sitting back and waiting to see what happens. There’s a lot of options out there and I really want to make sure I make the right choice because this is a huge investment and I want to make the right decision for my sponsor Patrón. I’m not ready to reveal because there’s nothing to reveal yet.”
 
The only thing she’ll reveal is -- nitro is a rush.

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