BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Oct. 14, 2026) – The Texas Motorplex is where Alexis DeJoria first attempted to qualify a nitro Funny Car in NHRA competition during her abbreviated four-race 2011 season andthere’s every reason to believe 15 years later that she and the John Force Racing Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car team can pull into winner’s circle at the conclusion of the Oct. 16-18 Texas NHRA FallNationals.
The Bandero Café team are currently seventh in the 2026 NHRA Funny Car point standings, 25 out of sixth and 55 to fifth place. She has two runner-up finishes (Gainesville, Chicago) and qualified in the top half of the ladder 13 times, the past 11 straight, with four No. 2 qualifiers (Bristol, Norwalk, Rockingham, St. Louis) and two No. 3 qualifiers (Epping, Seattle).
DeJoria is four round wins away from doubling her total from last year (11) and has already tied her fifth-highest season round win total (18) with three races remaining.
The popular “Battle for the Saddle” will again be on the line at the FallNationals, with a $15,000 bonus to be awarded to the low qualifier of Friday’s night qualifying session in Top Fuel and Funny Car.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings after 17 of 20 races are: 1. Matt Hagan, 2,402; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,330; 3. Austin Prock, 2,296; 4. Jack Beckman, 2,279; 5. J.R. Todd, 2,270; 6. Ron Capps, 2,240; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,215; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,174; 9. Chad Green, 2,123; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,117.
Quotes
What’s your and the Bandero Café team’s mindset heading into Dallas?
“Redemption! The Bandero Café Chevy was the car to beat at St. Louis two weeks ago and I beat myself in the second round on Sunday. Those losses are brutal but they make me just want to get right back to the track and into the seat and turn win lights on. We obviously have the ability to win before the season ends and finish higher in championship points than ever before in my career so that’s all that’s on our minds heading into Dallas.”
What’s your internal motivation that keeps the competitive fire burning?
“I just don’t quit. This Bandero Café team is so strong and so focused and that gives me the confidence in our race car to charge ahead and do better every time we pull up to the starting line.”
Do you have a hobby that you do just for you?
“I absolutely love finding time to get on one of my motorcycles and get in some two-wheel therapy. It works every time.”
Weekend Appearances
DeJoria will be signing autographs with Jack Beckman at the John Force Racing merchandise hauler on the NHRA midway on Fri., Oct. 16, from 3:45 – 4:15 p.m. CT. She will also be signing autographs at the Cornwell Tools midway display on Sat., Oct. 17, from 9:30 – 10 a.m. CT.
Track Schedule
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5:30 and 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct. 2, and the final two rounds of qualifying at 12 and 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 3. Final eliminations are scheduled for 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 4.
TV Schedule
Television coverage begins Friday, Oct. 2, with a first-day qualifying show from 6:30 – 8 p.m. ET on FS1. A second-day qualifying show is scheduled to air on Sun., Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on FS1. Elimination rounds will air Sun., Oct. 4, on FOX from 2 – 4 p.m. ET and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. ET.
Race Results
| Dallast | Race Result | Round by Round Results | Qualified | Event Record |
| 2011 (FC) | DNQ | N/A | 17th | 0-0 |
| 2012 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Bob Tasca | 8th | 0-1 |
| 2013 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Jack Beckman | 11th | 0-2 |
| 2014 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Jeff Diehl; lost to Del Worsham | 2nd | 1-3 |
| 2015 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Tim Wilkerson; lost to Del Worsham | 9th | 2-4 |
| 2016 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat John Force; lost to Robert Hight | 9th | 3-5 |
| 2017 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Bob Tasca III; lost to R. Hight | 9th | 4-6 |
| 2018 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2019 | Did Not Compete | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2020 (FC) | 2nd round | Beat Gary Densham; lost to Ron Capps | 5th | 5-7 |
| 2021 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to John Force | 6th | 5-8 |
| 2022 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Blake Alexander | 12th | 5-9 |
| 2023 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Tim Wilkerson | 8th | 5-10 |
| 2024 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 11th | 5-11 |
| 2025 (FC) | 1st round | Lost to Daniel Wilkerson | 6th | 5-12 |
Wins: 0
No. 1 Qualifiers: 0
Event Record: 5-12
2026 Results
| Event | Qualify | Round by Round | Round Record | Points Position |
| Gainesville | 11 | Beat Cruz Pedregon, Spencer Hyde, J.R. Todd; lost to Chad Green | 3-1 | 2 |
| Phoenix | 12 | Lost Jordan Vandergriff | 3-2 | 6 |
| Pomona1 | 7 | Beat Dave Richards; lost to Ron Capps | 4-3 | 7 |
| Charlotte | 5 | Won 1st Quad; lost 2nd quad | 5-4 | 6 |
| Valdosta | 10 | Beat Cruz Pedregon, Matt Hagan; lost to J.R. Todd | 7-5 | 6 |
| Chicago | 12 | Beat Spencer Hyde, Dave Richards, Matt Hagan; lost to Chad Green | 10-6 | 6 |
| Maryland | 7 | Lost to Ron Capps | 10-7 | 6 |
| Epping | 3 | Beat Cruz Pedregon; lost to Ron Capps | 11-8 | 7 |
| Bristol | 2 | Lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 11-9 | 7 |
| Norwalk | 2 | Beat Blake Alexander, Chad Green; lost to Ron Capps | 13-10 | 7 |
| Sonoma | 7 | Lost to Cruz Pedregon | 13-11 | 7 |
| Seattle | 3 | Lost to Dave Richards | 13-12 | 8 |
| Brainerd | 8 | Beat Dave Richards; lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 14-13 | 8 |
| Indianapolis | 6 | Beat Chad Green; lost to Jack Beckman | 15-14 | 7 |
| Martin | 6 | Beat Hunter Green; lost to Matt Hagan | 16-15 | 7 |
| Rockingham | 2 | Beat John Smith; lost to Paul Lee | 17-16 | 7 |
| St. Louis | 2 | Beat Bobby Bode; lost to Jordan Vandergriff | 18-17 | 7 |
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