Alexis De Joria Topeka wrap up

De Joria bounces back despite first round loss

TOPEKA, Kan. – NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Alexis De Joria and the Tequila Patrón sponsored team bounced back from her qualifying struggles to post a respectable 5.87 second elapsed time in round one of this past weekend’s O’Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan. Her Jack O’Bannon Racing teammate Sean O’Bannon reached the final of the event.

De Joria, 30, of Venice, Calif., struggled to get down the hot race track in qualifying, placing them in the dreaded 16th position. That forced them to run No. 1 qualifier and eventual winner Steve Harker in round one. De Joria rebounded to a 5.872 second elapsed time at 247.11 mph, but was no contest for Harker’s 5.664 at 255.00 mph.

“It was a tough weekend for us,” said De Joria. “But it’s part of the learning process. It would have been nice to have made that run during qualifying to improve our position and not have to run Harker in the first round. It also would have allowed us to possibly make a better run for round one. We’ll just move forward and try to learn from the weekend.”

The next stop for De Joria and the Tequila Patrón team will be in two weeks for the Division 7 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in Fallon, Nev., Jun. 13-15.

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.ForestRiverInc.com - Find out more about America's largest producer of towable RV's and Cargo Trailers

www.HoosierTire.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