Time away makes DeJoria more thankful for life on NHRA circuit
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- Created: Wednesday, 11 August 2021 05:45
NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria will compete in the Menards NHRA Nationals Friday through Sunday at Heartland Motorsports Park. [Photo courtesy of Rebilas Photography]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When NHRA Funny Car veteran Alexis DeJoria stepped away from the sport at the end of the 2017 season, the five-time race winner knew it was something she needed to do.
But that two-year break also proved to the 43-year-old driver of the Bandero ROKiT Toyota Camry just how important racing is to her.
"Taking that time off was imperative to just like balance my life out,'' DeJoria told TopSports.news. "I had so much going on and then my daughter (Bella) was turning 15 and I couldn't parent by proxy. I needed to be there with her and teach her how to drive and do all those great things and being on the road so much takes its toll on a marriage and that was really difficult as well, so I was lucky enough to be able to take that time away and kind of just take a look at everything and take time to clarify everything that was really important to me.''
One of those important things was drag racing, with the former U.S. Nationals champion teaming with NHRA veterans Del Worsham and Nicky Boninfante to launch a new team in 2020.
Alexis DeJoria [Photo courtesy of Rebilas Photography]
"Taking that time away really did make me appreciate everything that I've accomplished in NHRA and everything that I want to accomplish,'' DeJoria said. "Sometimes you take a break and then when you come back to something, it's that much more better. I don't know even how to say it. There's no words, it's just like this was obviously what I was supposed to do in every way, shape or form and taking that time away really made that clear.''
