Come September there will be, not one but two, DeJoria's anxiously awaiting the start of Funny Car qualifying.

Alexa Dejoria, the driver of Patron Funny Car, and her father Paul have both marked Spetember 23rd as a very important day in their journey as a father and daughter.

“I’m very excited about it,” said DeJoria, the excitement coming through in her voice.

For DeJoria the first day of qualifying at the NHRA AAA Texas Fallnationals will represent a rite of passage. She will officially be a full-fledged nitro racer. And, even though her father was steadfastly against her driving in the NHRA, over time his attitude has changed. He has since warmed up to the idea to the point he’s eagerly looking forward to each race and to the day she takes the next step in her racing career.

The current task at hand for Alexa is becoming more acquainted with the Funny Car which burns a potent blend of nitro versus her Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Come September there will be, not one but two, DeJoria's anxiously awaiting the start of Funny Car qualifying.

Alexa Dejoria, the driver of Patron Funny Car, and her father Paul have both marked Spetember 23rd as a very important day in their journey as a father and daughter.

“I’m very excited about it,” said DeJoria, the excitement coming through in her voice.

For DeJoria the first day of qualifying at the NHRA AAA Texas Fallnationals will represent a rite of passage. She will officially be a full-fledged nitro racer. And, even though her father was steadfastly against her driving in the NHRA, over time his attitude has changed. He has since warmed up to the idea to the point he’s eagerly looking forward to each race and to the day she takes the next step in her racing career.

The current task at hand for Alexa is becoming more acquainted with the Funny Car which burns a potent blend of nitro versus her Top Alcohol Funny Car.

While DeJoria’s plans to go nitro racing is no big secret, the fact she intends to debut at Texas is definitely news. Between now and September, DeJoria is hoping to squeeze in at least 50 runs down the track in a Funny Car with a restrictor plate. Using the restrictor plate on the engine keeps her within NHRA testing rules.

Testing could begin as early as the day following the NHRA Summit Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. It will be her first tests with a restrictor-plate equipped engine. Last year the heiress to the Paul Mitchell Systems fortune drove a former Del Worsham Funny Car to a 4.18 elapsed time to earn her Funny Car license.

DeJoria will drive another Worsham car in testing. This time around it will be the Toyota Solara he drove last year for the Al Anabi team. Following Norwalk, additional testing is planned for Bristol, Chicago and for sure at the weeklong pre-U.S. Nationals. All dates are tentative.

Because DeJoria is a newly licensed nitro driver who hasn’t competed in NHRA nitro competition; she isn’t held to the same testing restrictions as racers currently on the tour.

DeJoria has said 50 test runs would help her reach a comfort zone headed into the Dallas debut. When she rolls to the Texas Motorplex starting line on the Friday of the Dallas event, she will do so just four days short of her one year anniversary of making her first runs under the tutelage of Del Worsham.

Though her seat time is limited at this point, she’s plenty comfortable with the nitro in the tank of her Funny Car.

“There’s still so many things that I still need to experience but I’m very comfortable in the car. I’ve learned so much from every run that I make, and with Del Worsham, he’s just the most amazing teacher. Of course the Kalitta group over there, they’re just a great group of guys, and I feel very comfortable. All the years that I’ve spent in Top Alcohol, as well, really prepared me. I feel very good in that seat.”

Not only does she feel good, there’s a measure of giddiness which lies ahead imagining what the competition experience will bring.

“Let’s see. Lining up against people like John Force. Lining up against people like that – [people] that I admire and look up to. That’s something I’m looking forward to. And, gosh, going over 300 mph hopefully.

“Having a great team behind me. It’s really cool to be a part of a team now. You know I’ve been racing by myself for quite a while now, and just the camaraderie, if someone else goes out, you still have someone else to root for it’s a really cool feeling.”

Getting comfortable enough in the car to race is one major step. Getting comfortable with the media rush given her celebrity status will be another major step.

Recently she filmed a news segment for CNN at the NHRA SuperNationals and understands because of her personal story, she will soon become an immediate attraction to the mainstream media.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed I like to stay below the radar,” said DeJoria. “I don’t go and flash my face all over. But, it’s going to be unavoidable.

“I’m not here to be famous. Of course, everybody wants to be known for their skill. I just want to drive. I want to be a really, really good driver. And be very successful at it. And then, because of that, become a name. A household name.”

Since joining the semi-professional ranks, DeJoria has always focused on diverting the attention from her family’s personal wealth and outside entities and encouraging more and more attention towards her as a racer. At first, DeJoria admits, her dad, Paul DeJoria, wasn’t a fan of her drag racing. He has since warmed up to the idea to the point he’s eagerly looking forward to each race.

Having watched her father over the years, DeJoria is certain she's had the best teacher possible when it comes to handling life outside the race car.

“I’ve watched my father throughout the years how he’s handles different things like publicity and things like that, and I think I’ve learned a lot from him,” DeJoria revealed. “He is thrilled, he can’t wait, which is a huge change from where we first started and looking at the alcohol funny cars and going ‘you’re not getting in that thing.’

Dallas will be both the last step in one journey and the first step in another journey for both daughter and father.

 

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