Alexis De Joria Phoenix preview

De Joria training hard to bounce back in Phoenix

CHANDLER, Ariz. - NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Alexis De Joria and the Tequila Patrón/Jack O'Bannon Racing team will be looking to bounce back during this weekend's Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series opener at Firebird Raceway just outside of Phoenix. The team tested extensively in Phoenix during the preseason and backed that up with another test session in Bakersfield, Calif., after the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. De Joria hopes to duplicate the career-best numbers she has run in testing in the Tequila Patrón Dodge Charger and make a strong showing in Phoenix this weekend.

De Joria, 30, the daughter of Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products and Patrón Spirits Company founder John Paul De Joria, cites while the team is working around the clock to make the car better, she is training hard to make herself better. To build her upper body strength to handle the rigors of driving a Top Alcohol Funny Car, considered by many to be the hardest car in all of drag racing to drive, she is working five days a week with a professional boxing trainer.

"I've been working my butt off," said De Joria. "I'm working with a boxing trainer five days a week. The guy who's training with me is a lightweight boxing champion, so it's a pretty rough routine. I'm really lucky to have a great crew that is really busting their tails to give me the best car possible, and I'm just trying to hold up my end of the bargain and be in the best shape and build my upper body strength."

"I can't say enough about my new Crew Chief Bob DeVour," De Joria continued. "I'm really grateful to have such a great teacher like Bob. He's really done a lot to make me more comfortable in the car. The latest change we are making is putting a new windshield in the car and remaking the 'doghouse' that goes around the injector. It's a little bigger than it needs to be and is obstructing my vision. They're going to make a new one and fit a new windshield to it so that I can see better. The car ran well in testing and I was able to be more involved working on the car. I think the more I know about how things work on the car, the better driver I will be."

The team plans to open the weekend during the test session on Thursday. Qualifying begins on Friday for the alcohol cars, followed by two sessions on Saturday. Final eliminations will conclude the event on Sunday.

Simply Perfect in every way, Patrón is the world’s No. 1 selling ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive Weaber Blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by Las Vegas-based The Patrón Spirits Company, brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón Gran Platinum, Patrón Anejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café (tequila and coffee blend), and Patrón Citrónge (extra fine orange liqueur), Ultimat Vodka (80 proof, Black Cherry and Chocolate Vanilla), as well as Pyrat Pistol, Pyrat Cask, and Pyrat XO Reserve Caribbean rums.

To find out more about the Jack O'Bannon Racing Team, visit their website at www.JackOBannonRacing.com

To find out more about Jack O'Bannon Racing's quality partners, visit these websites:

www.PatronSpirits.com - Find out more about the world's number one tequila - Tequila Patrón.

www.HoosierRacingTire.com - "Tires Designed for Champions"

www.LE-Inc.com - Lubrication Engineers - "Leaders in Lubrication"

Contact: Will Hanna/ Pro Race Communications
Email: Will.Hanna@InsideTopAlcohol.com