Alexis DeJoria heads to the inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway on May 29-31 seeking to convert momentum into a first Funny Car win since 2021.

The John Force Racing Bandero Café Chevrolet SS has trended upward. With crew chiefs Mike Neff and Jonnie Lindberg, DeJoria reached the Southern Nationals semifinals and finished runner-up at Route 66.

The new venue introduces variables. The team arrives with hot and cool-weather tune-ups, targeting a stable clutch window and early power application on an unknown surface.

DeJoria opened 2026 with a final-round appearance, then exited early in Phoenix. Since then, she has won at least one round in four straight events, underpinning improved baseline execution.

The performance brief is clear: lower elapsed times and increase speed without sacrificing repeatability. That means refining launch timing, track-reading calls, and incremental data-driven changes run to run.

Confidence also draws from recent markers, including a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win and another runner-up in Chicago. Those results reflect a consistently competitive race-day package.

Qualifying in Maryland runs Friday at 2:30 and 5 p.m. Eastern, then Saturday at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations begin Sunday at 11 a.m., with live FS1 coverage from 3-6 p.m. Fans can also note the local build-up through the St. Mary’s County fan fest.

A fresh track tends to compress the field. Adaptable teams can seize early advantage, while the broader NHRA schedule remains dynamic after the NHRA SportsNationals postponement.

The Potomac Nationals also spotlights contenders across categories, including Top Fuel names such as Antron Brown. For DeJoria, the target is narrower: convert form into a decisive Funny Car victory.

With resources from John Force Racing, growing round-win efficiency, and a versatile tune-up, DeJoria enters Maryland positioned to turn promise into a breakthrough result.

Visual Summary

Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.