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.''
Starting a new team during the COVID-altered '20 season wasn't ideal, but DeJoria and Co. picked up steam at the end of last season and have continued their upward swing in '21, making it to a final round and multiple semifinals and sitting seventh in Funny Car points entering this weekend's Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park.
"The first year was tough, putting together a new team, but obviously I'm not new to the game and neither is Del Worsham or Nicki Boninfonte or any of the guys that are working on our race team right now,'' DeJoria said. "They're all very, very, very qualified and they love working, too. We have an incredible team and I'm very, very grateful to have put this together with Del.
"Considering COVID and the lockdowns and everything, it kind of slowed things down and made it hard to get in a groove that first year but we still ran really well and at the end of the season we had like a top-four car, so everything that we planned is coming to fruition.''
The good news is that DeJoria feels like even better things are still to come.
"My car's very consistent and it's fast,'' she said. "We've had really good showings at I'd say the majority of the races, more than not. We've been to semifinals and finals and we qualified second at two of the three races on the Western Swing.
"Now I can kind of sit back and look at everything and say, 'You know what, we really are doing good, especially under the circumstances of not having tons of time under our belts as a team.' ''
DeJoria has experienced just so-so results at Heartland Motorsports Park and is still looking for her first Topeka victory, but it's a track where she feels comfortable.''
"I love racing on that track,'' she said. "I've been racing in Topeka since my beginning in Top Alcohol Funny Car so I love going up there. It's a great facility and a great race track.
"I don't remember doing that great there, but hopefully the way things are going right now that will all change and I'll have great memories to take with me.''
NHRA CAMPING WORLD DRAG RACING SERIES STANDINGS
Top Fuel
1. Steve Torrence, 1014 points
2. Antron Brown, 701
3. Brittany Force, 625
4. Leah Pruett, 579
5. Shawn Langdon, 514
6. Mike Salinas, 513
7. Justin Ashley, 466
8. Billy Torrence, 448
9. Doug Kalitta, 439
10. Clay Millican, 388
Funny Car
1. Ron Capps, 734
2. Bob Tasca III, 729
3. John Force, 698
4. Robert Hight, 697
5. Matt Hagan, 689
6. J.R. Todd, 677
7. Alexis DeJoria, 632
8. Tim Wilkerson, 552
9. Cruz Pedregon, 537
10. Blake Alexander, 343
Pro Stock
1. Greg Anderson, 835
2. Aaron Stanfield, 709
3. Erica Enders, 648
4. Matt Hartford, 566
5. Dallas Glenn, 524
6. Kyle Koretsky, 521
7. Mason McGaha, 518
8. Troy Coughlin Jr., 488
9. Deric Kramer, 487
10. Chris McGaha, 357
