Alexis DeJoria (born September 24, 1977) is an American
drag racer
Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...
who competes in the
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsport sanction ...
(NHRA)
Funny Car category. She previously drove a
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry (; Japanese: トヨタ・カムリ ''Toyota Kamuri'') is an automobile sold internationally by the Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota since 1982, spanning multiple generations. Originally compact in size (narrow-body), the Cam ...
for Kalitta Motorsports (owned by
Connie Kalitta
Conrad Kalitta (born February 24, 1938) is an American businessman and former drag racing driver, nicknamed "the Bounty Hunter." Kalitta is the CEO of Kalitta Air and the owner of Kalitta Motorsports. ), sponsored by
Patrón Spirits Company.
She returned to competitive racing in 2020 with a new team led by crew chiefs Del Worsham and Nicky Boninfante. As of 2019, she was the third richest female athlete in the world, and as of 2022 the second richest with a net worth of $100 million.
Career
DeJoria began her NHRA career in 2005, initially competing in the
Super Gas category, before moving into a
Super Comp Super Comp (or Quick Rod) is the fastest of the heads-up Super classes (8.90 index). Super Comp is composed primarily of dragsters. Engine, chassis and body modifications are virtually unlimited, though all entries must adhere to NHRA or IHRA safe ...
dragster. Eight months after her NHRA debut, she went on to win the Sportsman Nationals in
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. Founded by Azariel Blanchard Miller in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area. It ...
.
DeJoria spent the next two years racing on the West coast in
Top Alcohol
Top Alcohol refers to two different classes in professional drag racing: Top Alcohol Dragster and the Top Alcohol Funny Car. Commonly known as "alky" cars, both are akin in design to the premier Top Fuel classes, but less powerful (about ). In ...
Funny Car (TA/FC).
In 2009, DeJoria built her own racing team, Stealth Motorsports. At the 2011 NHRA Northwest Fall Nationals, she won her first ever NHRA national event win in TA/FC, becoming the second woman ever to do so. She co-owned and operated the team for three years, leaving in 2011 to join Kalitta Motorsports as their fourth member and second funny car driver. This move coincided with her transition to racing a
nitro
Nitro may refer to:
Chemistry
*Nitrogen, a chemical element and a gas except at very low temperatures, with which many compounds are formed:
**Nitro compound, an organic compound containing one or more nitro functional groups, -NO2
**Nitro ligand ...
(Fuel) funny car at the 2011 Texas Fall Nationals.
In 2012, DeJoria raced her first final-round appearance at Bristol. That year she also set both a career best for time with a run of 4.032 and speed of at Reading.
During the 2013 season, DeJoria had four semi-final finishes.
In 2014, DeJoria became the first woman ever to make a sub-four second pass, with a 3.997-second e.t., during the
NHRA Winternationals
The NHRA Winternationals (commonly called the Winternats) are an annual drag racing event held by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California.
History
The National ...
at Pomona. At her next race in Phoenix, DeJoria won her first race in Funny Car. In March 2014, she picked up the second win of her professional career in Las Vegas. That May, she broke a Funny Car track record at Atlanta Dragway (4.012-second e.t.) while earning her the number one qualifier position. That summer, she went on to break
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd International Raceway is a road course, and dragstrip racing complex northwest of the city of Brainerd, Minnesota. The complex has a dragstrip, and overlapping and road courses. The complex also includes a kart track. The raceway ...
's Funny Car ET record with a 4.010-second pass, then reset her own record with a 3.998-second pass, the first sub-four second Funny Car pass at BIR. In September she won the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
On June 7, 2015, DeJoria reached the final round in Nitro Funny Car in the
NHRA Summernationals The NHRA Summernationals, hosted by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), was an annual drag racing event held from 1970 to 1992, 2002 to 2017 and again in 2020, mostly at the Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in New Jersey.
History
The fi ...
at
Englishtown.
DeJoria announced her return from a two-year hiatus in late 2019. She stated plans to run the entire 2020 schedule in the hopes of becoming the first woman to win a Funny Car championship. During this time DeJoria entered into a multi year sponsorship with ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer, with branding appearing on DeJoria's vehicle, driver and crew uniforms, official merchandise and across her team's transport fleet.
Filmography
She played the role of Paula, in the 2013 movie "
Snake and Mongoose".
Personal life
DeJoria was married to American television personality and motorcycle customizer
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, Bank robbery, bank and Train robbery, train robber, guerrilla and leader of the James–Younger Gang. Raised in the "Little Dixie (Missouri), Little Dixie" area of M ...
. On March 17, 2020, it was announced via social media that Alexis and Jesse James were getting divorced. Among the reasons given was James' infidelity.
DeJoria is the daughter of entrepreneur
John Paul DeJoria
John Paul Jones DeJoria (born April 13, 1944) is an American billionaire businessman, best known as a co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and The Patrón Spirits Company. DeJoria has been called an example of the American Drea ...
and Jamie Briggs.
DeJoria has a daughter, Bella, from a previous relationship.
Philanthropy
DeJoria, along with her mother Jamie Briggs, joined Sallie Latimer's efforts to raise money to repair the
Earles Court water tower.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:DeJoria, Alexis
1977 births
Living people
People from Venice, Los Angeles
Dragster drivers
NHRA drivers
Female dragster drivers
American female racing drivers
Racing drivers from Los Angeles
21st-century American sportswomen