Alexis De Joria Phoenix preview

De Joria ready for divisional debut in Phoenix

CHANDLER, Ariz. - NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car rookie driver Alexis De Joria and the Tequila Patron/Jack O'Bannon Racing team will make their divisional debut at this weekend's Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener at Firebird Raceway just outside of Phoenix. De Joria earned her Top Alcohol Funny Car license here in January and hopes for a solid outing this weekend.

De Joria, 29, of Venice, Calif., is excited about continuing her Funny Car education this weekend. The daughter of Patron Spirits Company and Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products founder John Paul De Joria hopes to learn the ropes of Funny Car racing in the alcohol ranks and make a move to Nitro Funny Car in the future.

"I'm just excited about getting back in the car," said De Joria. "I really enjoying being in the car; I feel at home there. I learned a lot in Pomona and hopefully we can build on that this weekend. Randy and the guys have given me a great car, I just need to keep getting better at my job - driving. Randy is really a great teacher. He's been very patient and he's shared quite a bit with me from when he was a rookie driver."

"Sometimes I just can't believe I'm racing on this level," De Joria continued. "When I was at this race last year, I was running Super Gas. Now I'm in Top Alcohol Funny Car. Hopefully we can continue to take steps forward and make a good showing for Tequila Patron and Jack O'Bannon Racing."

-credit: jor