| Round Two of Testing in New Car Shows DeJoria Will be a Force to Reckon With in the Nitro Fuel Class |
| filed under:Press Releases |
| Media Contact: Allison McCormick (561) 279-7827 x306 or (305) 764-5377
Alexis, who’s already looking to be very promising as a Fuel competitor based on previous test sessions, continued to display an exceptional skillset in handling the car earlier this week, making four total runs at the Joliet track. Monday morning’s wet weather made for a hot and sticky track later that afternoon. The team made their first pass shortly after 1PM, and conditions were challenging by that point. In the first pass, Alexis went out to 750 feet at 241 mph in 4.39 seconds, and then clicked the car off, rather than making the full pass to 1000 feet. The purpose of this run was to gain data on the kind of conditions they were in, as the track was very different than what they had encountered at their previous test session in Norwalk, OH, and for Alexis to get comfortable with the restrictor plate. Going into the next run, the temperature continued to increase rapidly and although the track was very greasy, Alexis was able to keep the car in the groove and handled the car well, resulting in a 4.38 at 280 mph on a full pass. The third run proved to be slightly more tricky, but Alexis was able to adjust well. At 2.3 seconds into the run, the car dropped a cylinder, which can cause cars to move out of the groove. While the car did move slightly out of the groove, Alexis was able to drive it back in and continue with the run, finishing in 4.34 at 284 mph. Her fourth and final run of the day proved to be her best. She ran a 4.29 at 293 mph- a phenomenal time and speed for the kind of complex conditions she was facing. Team Kalitta’s DHL Funny Car Co-Crew Chief Nicky Boninfante, who was trackside for testing, was extremely impressed with Alexis’ performance saying “Alexis has once again continued to improve with each run and we feel very confident that she’s going to just get better and better. There is no doubt that she will be competitive. She’s proven that she can handle the car very well and her enthusiasm and her ability are going to take her very far in this sport.” Jim Oberhofer, VP of Kalitta Motorsports, is also looking forward to officially having Alexis as part of his operation saying, “We’re very excited to be involved with both Alexis and her sponsor, Tequila Patrün, and welcome them with open arms.” He went on to add “Alexis looks like a seasoned vet out there! She handled the car tremendously. If people didn’t know she was a rookie, they would never guess she’s just out there trying to get seat time.” Alexis, who’s excited about making the transition from Top Alcohol to Fuel driver in Dallas, also finished the day in high spirits, remarking “It was another awesome day of testing! The guys did a great job prepping the car in these tough conditions, and I can’t wait to represent Patrün in Dallas!” Alexis currently has thirty-six Nitro test runs under her belt, and is planning on nineteen more prior to her Dallas debut at the NHRA Fall Nationals, September 23rd-25th.
Alexis DeJoria, daughter of the famed John Paul DeJoria, of Paul Mitchell Systems, and Patrün Spirits, is currently the Top Female Top Alcohol Funny Car Racer. Her team, Stealth Motorsports, co-operated by Alexis, is one of the few female-owned and operated teams in the industry. Alexis made racing history when she competed in the first ever ‘woman vs. woman’ race in her class in 2010, and she is the 2nd woman ever to win a Top Alcohol Funny Car race. Alexis is the female world record holder for the fastest and quickest speeds, and her car is currently the second fastest car in the world in the TAFC category. Alexis is also well-known for her infamous 2009 Englishtown, NJ crash. Alexis, who had all the opportunity in the world to pursue any type of career, felt strongly about doing something she is passionate about, and she is proud to encourage and inspire young women to go after their dreams. Alexis’ 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 the dangerous, male dominated sport of drag racing. Alexis will transition into the Nitro Funny Car category in the fall of 2011. She will receive assistance from the Kalitta Motorsports team. Media Contact info: Alexis DeJoria and members of Alexis DeJoria Racing are available for interview. Please contact Allison McCormick at (561) 279-7827 x306 or allison@alexisdejoria.com
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