ALEXIS DEJORIA READY FOR UPCOMING SONOMA NATS

FUNNY CAR STANDOUT ALEXIS DEJORIA READY FOR UPCOMING DENSO NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

SONOMA, Calif. (July 24, 2025) – After a strong showing in Seattle, Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria is ready for the 37th annual Denso Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at scenic Sonoma Raceway.

DeJoria, driver of the 12,000-horsepower Bandero Café Funny Car, advanced to the semifinals last weekend at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle. She won the opening round of competition with a holeshot victory over Gainesville winner Chad Green and then defeated former champion and Epping winner J.R. Todd in the quarterfinals with another holeshot win, before falling to eventual winner and four-time world champion Matt Hagan.

After three consecutive first round exits, the team’s performance in Seattle marked a much-needed step in the right direction heading to Sonoma.

“Our Bandero Café Funny Car team is coming off a good showing in Seattle, and I’m excited to get right back out there this weekend in Sonoma,” said DeJoria. “It’s a great facility, good air, cool conditions, good track surface, and the fans are great. Just all around really enjoy racing there.”

It is the 12th of 20 races during the 2025 season, meaning only three races remain before the start of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The weekend in Sonoma is loaded, too, with qualifying under the lights on Friday, the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, and eliminations on Sunday.

With her semifinal finish in Seattle, DeJoria will be entered into the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge where she will rematch with Hagan. The other pairing will be Seattle runner-up and former champion Ron Capps taking on Rookie of the Year candidate Spencer Hyde.

“We’d of course like continue our progression and success with going rounds and hopefully, acquire our very first Wally together as a team,” said DeJoria, who jumped to eighth in points after a successful weekend in Seattle.

Currently leading the Funny Car points is reigning champion Prock, who has four wins on the season. His John Force Racing teammate and former champion Jack Beckman is second, after earning a pair of wins in Pomona and Chicago. Others to watch at Sonoma will be Hagan, Capps, Todd, Phoenix winner Paul Lee and 2024 Sonoma winner Tasca III.

The Top Fuel class has seen seven different winners throughout the season. Currently leading the way is Langdon. Langdon reclaimed the points lead after earning his third race win of the season in Seattle. 2024 Rookie of the Year and motorsports legend Tony Stewart is second in points with a pair of wins this season. Justin Ashley sits third after winning in Richmond and Norwalk.

The Pro Stock field has been dominated by the KB Titan Racing juggernaut, led by reigning world champion Greg Anderson. Anderson has four wins on the season, but the Pro Stock points are currently led by his teammate Dallas Glenn, following Glenn’s win in Seattle. The two have collectively won eight of the nine Pro Stock races on the season.

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle riders will be pulling double duty this weekend with the Denso Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge as well as the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout. Reigning world champ Gaige Herrera will once again have his pick of opponents featuring last year’s winner and six-time champion Smith, Richard Gadson, Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo, Chase Van Sant, John Hall and Chris Bostick.

The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the top drivers in the sport, as well as the Top the Cops exhibition and autograph sessions at the Mission Foods Midway Display and for Pro Stock Motorcycle riders at the Suzuki Display. A kids-only autograph session takes place under the Main Grandstand at 3 p.m. on Friday as well.

Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, music and more. Sonoma race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate event winners.

As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans get a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday, July 25 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, July 26 at 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday, July 27. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, and eliminations at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. A broadcast of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge takes place on FOX at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Selections for the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout take place on Friday, with the first round of the bonus race set for 11:15 a.m. PT on Saturday. The semifinals follow at 1:45 and the final round takes place at 4:15 p.m. as part of a huge weekend in Sonoma. A special Callout broadcast also takes place at 9:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

To purchase tickets to the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.