Alexis DeJoria, the accomplished driver of the Bandero Premium Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, is set to return to Brainerd International Raceway for the NHRA Brainerd Nationals. DeJoria, who claimed the event championship in 2017, is looking to build on her past successes as she enters the penultimate event of the regular season ranked 11th in the standings.
Reflecting on her recent performances, DeJoria has faced challenges, including a first-round exit at the 2023 Brainerd Nationals and a similar outcome at the last event in Sonoma, where she was defeated in the first round by Paul Lee. Despite these setbacks, her season statistics include 12 races and a runner-up finish, adding to her impressive career total of 227 races, six wins, and six No. 1 qualifiers.
DeJoria’s connection to Brainerd runs deep, as she made history in 2014 by becoming the first Funny Car driver to record a sub-four-second run on the BIR track, clocking an E.T. of 3.998 during the second round of eliminations. Now, she aims to leverage that experience as she battles to secure a spot in the Top 10 for the upcoming Countdown to the Championship.
DeJoria is within striking distance of the eighth through 10th positions, trailing by just one round win. Her team has been hard at work, testing their back-up car in Indianapolis while their primary car underwent critical updates. With a renewed focus and determination, DeJoria is optimistic about her prospects in Brainerd.
“The last few races haven’t been our best, but Brainerd is a track where we’ve had success in the past,” DeJoria said. “Our Bandero Supra team has been busy since we left Sonoma. We went to Indy for two days to test our backup car while our main car was getting front-halved. We all feel like we’re heading in the right direction, and we’re ready for a strong showing to close out these last two events of the regular season.”
This story was originally published on August 16, 2024. 
