When Alexis DeJoria arrives at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for the 45th annual Toyota NHRA Summernationals, May 29-June 1, fans will see a driver and a team that have made tremendous strides since 2013.

DeJoria has become a legitimate Funny Car championship contender and a breakout star in 2014, making remarkable improvements in her 10,000-horsepower Patron XO Café Toyota Camry. As for what has clicked and what has led to the first two victories of her Funny Car career, DeJoria deflected the credit to a hardworking Kalitta Motorsports team that has meshed from the outset of the season.

alexis“This has been our turnaround year,” DeJoria said. “We’ve had some great consistent runs, and I’m just hoping we can keep on going. I thank [my team] very much from the bottom of my heart. I love those guys. That team, we work really hard, like everybody does, but I think as a team we’ve really connected, and it’s been a great year.”

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock), and Michael Ray (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. It also marks the ninth of 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit.

DeJoria’s improvements are noticeable at seemingly every event, leading to a consistent approach that has her third in points. She has qualified in the top five at four races, including earning her first No. 1 qualifying position in Atlanta. There, she broke the track record with an impressive run of 4.012 at 313.95 that was the second-quickest pass of her career.

DeJoria suffered a first-round loss last weekend but stayed positive in what has been an otherwise strong season. After starting the year by becoming the first woman to make a three-second run in Funny Car, going 3.997 at 318.32 in Pomona, DeJoria followed with her first victory at the next event in Phoenix. Another victory followed in Las Vegas as DeJoria provided significant contributions in the race for the landmark 100th win by a woman.

DeJoria has also become a strong threat to everyone in the loaded Funny Car class this season but will face a number of challenges at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals. Hagan defeated Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman to win the event last year and is chasing his first victory this season.

Points leader Robert Hight has been red-hot with six final-round appearances in eight races this season but has yet to taste victory in Englishtown. Past Englishtown winners John Force, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon, Del Worsham, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Bob Tasca III, and Tim Wilkerson will all be contenders as well, but DeJoria has also enjoyed racing in Englishtown in her young Funny Car career.

“The facility itself always does a good job to make sure they give us a good racing surface,” DeJoria said. “You can see some quick numbers there. The fans are amazing, and every time I’ve raced there, the place has been packed.”

The Toyota NHRA Summernationals also finishes a stretch of races on three straight weekends. With a week off before another rigorous stretch of four consecutive races, DeJoria knows what it would mean to do well in Englishtown.

“I think it’s important for our team to finish [this stretch] on a good note,” DeJoria said. “It’s something to think about when we have a week off before we go into our four in a row. Overall, on any sort of stretch like this, you want to end things on the up and up.”

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds and enjoy cherished face time with and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.

The race also will showcase thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

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