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DeJoria’s Strong Bristol Qualifying Sparks Exciting Prospects Ahead
Highlights
- Alexis DeJoria qualified second at Bristol NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
- She posted a 4.010-second lap at 326.00 mph in qualifying.
- DeJoria lost opening elimination round to teammate Jordan Vandergriff.
- Bristol Dragway had recently undergone resurfacing before the event.
- Next NHRA event is Summit Nationals June 26-28 in Norwalk, Ohio.
Alexis DeJoria delivers standout qualifying speed at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, securing P2 in Funny Car on the newly resurfaced Bristol Dragway surface.
Driving the Bandero Café Chevrolet for John Force Racing, she leads her stable and underlines the team’s pace after limited data on the fresh surface.
Early sessions prove treacherous, with widespread tire smoke masking potential and skewing baselines for the Bandero Café crew and rivals alike.
On Saturday, crew chiefs Mike “Zippy” Neff and Jonnie Lindberg dial in grip and balance, producing a 4.010-second, 326.00 mph lap that sets the session benchmark.
4.010s at 326.00 mph secures DeJoria P2 in Bristol qualifying.
That run secures the No. 2 seed and confirms the Chevrolet SS’s efficiency over the rebuilt lane profile despite cooler conditions and a narrow operating window.
Sunday resets everything. Drawn against teammate Jordan Vandergriff, qualified 13th from a 4.548 at 191.73 mph, DeJoria faces a knife‑edge first‑round matchup.
Vandergriff edges DeJoria, 3.999s to 4.028s, after near-identical launches.
Their launches differ by seven‑thousandths. Vandergriff posts 3.999 at 322.88 mph to advance. DeJoria clocks 4.028 at 326.24 mph, the meeting’s first sub‑four Funny Car pass.
DeJoria records the weekend’s first sub-four-second Funny Car pass at 4.028s.
Post‑race, DeJoria says she thought she had won, having not seen Vandergriff alongside, but credits the crew and stresses the quality of the attempt.
The outing aligns with a clear upward curve since her confidence‑building work at Epping and earlier momentum around Potomac, aided by John Force Racing’s depth.
It also reflects a field compressed by the green surface, where minute setup changes swing outcomes and lane choice becomes decisive as rubber builds.
Attention now shifts to Norwalk, Ohio. The Summit NHRA Nationals run June 26–28, offering another chance to translate qualifying pace into elimination results.
Summit NHRA Nationals in Norwalk run June 26–28.
Visual Summary
DeJoria ??
?
Vandergriff
?
Finish
#2
Qualifying
4.010s @ 326 mph
Fastest Q3 Run
#13
Vandergriff
3.999s @ 322 mph
Sub-4s Elim. Pass
DeJoria’s Weekend Pulse
⚡
Strong qualifying, strong run—elimination heartbreak
“Thought I had him.
We’re making real progress.
Next round, we’ll fly.”
— Alexis DeJoria
We’re making real progress.
Next round, we’ll fly.”
— Alexis DeJoria
Next: Norwalk, Ohio | June 26–28 ?
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.
