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Heat Tests Bandero Café Team’s Grit on Richmond Race Day
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Highlights
- DeJoria qualified seventh with a 4.050-second run at Virginia NHRA
- Technical issues limited Bandero Café team to two qualifying runs
- DeJoria secured lane choice for elimination round against Paul Lee
- Car lost traction early in eliminations; opponent advanced
- Next NHRA event scheduled for June 27-29 in Norwalk, Ohio
- DeJoria remains top 10 in NHRA Funny Car points standings
During the third and final qualifying attempt, DeJoria managed another solid run of 4.068 seconds. By Saturday evening, she was secured in the eighth position for Sunday’s elimination rounds and earned lane choice over No. 9 qualifier Paul Lee.
When eliminations began, DeJoria’s car lost traction early in the run, skidding toward the centerline. She shut down the car before reaching the finish, allowing her rival to post his best run of the weekend and move to the next round.
She described the track as hot and unforgiving, emphasizing that small mistakes get magnified with Funny Cars, especially when track temperatures reach 140 degrees.
After the race, DeJoria spoke about the challenge, saying the team was down to two runs but made every run count, even picking up a bonus point.
DeJoria said she had to make some steering corrections, but the move was a bit too aggressive for the conditions and pushed the car out of the racing groove. Despite the early exit, DeJoria remains in the top 10 in the NHRA Funny Car points and is looking forward to getting back on track.
DeJoria and the Bandero Café crew will have another chance to build on their recent qualifying speed at the upcoming Norwalk event.
She will return to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series later in June, with the next event scheduled for Norwalk, Ohio, from June 27 to 29. The competition at Norwalk will give DeJoria and the Bandero Café crew another chance to build on their recent qualifying speed and aim for better race day results.
The Virginia event capped a weekend marked by high heat and equipment challenges for many teams. DeJoria’s qualifying runs offered promise, and the team will be working to avoid mechanical issues at upcoming races.
With a quick car and a determined crew, DeJoria is focused on making sure the next event ends with a stronger finish.
Additionally, the impact of rule changes on car performance is something teams must continually adapt to, similar to recent discussions around Mercedes FIA rule changes affecting other racing series.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
