“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,” Alexis DeJoria said, setting her sights firmly on the upcoming Texas NHRA FallNationals.
DeJoria enters the weekend seventh in the 2026 NHRA Funny Car point standings with 2,215 points, sitting 25 points behind sixth place and 55 points behind fifth.
Championship Standings and Season Performance
The John Force Racing driver has secured two runner-up finishes this season at Gainesville and Chicago. She has qualified in the top half of the ladder 13 times, including the past 11 straight events. That streak features four No. 2 qualifying positions at Bristol, Norwalk, Rockingham, and St. Louis, alongside two No. 3 spots at Epping and Seattle.
John Force Racing Funny Car standout Alexis DeJoria took the provisional No. 1 qualifier spot at World Wide Technology Raceway, kicking off the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals.https://t.co/y5DRFr9eM0
DeJoria has collected 18 round wins through the first 17 races of the 20-race season, tying her fifth-highest season round-win total with three events remaining. She sits four round wins away from doubling her total of 11 from last year.
The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car point standings feature Matt Hagan leading with 2,402 points, followed by Jordan Vandergriff with 2,330 points, and Austin Prock with 2,296 points. Jack Beckman holds fourth place with 2,279 points, J.R. Todd is fifth with 2,270 points, and Ron Capps sits sixth with 2,240 points. Behind DeJoria in seventh are Daniel Wilkerson in eighth with 2,174 points, Chad Green in ninth with 2,123 points, and Spencer Hyde in tenth with 2,117 points.
The Texas Motorplex Schedule and Fan Events
Competition at the FallNationals includes the “Battle for the Saddle” bonus, which awards $15,000 to the low qualifier of Friday night’s qualifying session in both Top Fuel and Funny Car classes.
Fans attending the event can meet DeJoria during multiple scheduled autograph sessions. She will sign autographs alongside Jack Beckman at the John Force Racing merchandise hauler on the NHRA midway on Friday, October 16, from 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. CT. An additional signing session is scheduled at the Cornwell Tools midway display on Saturday, October 17, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. CT.
Frequently Asked Questions About the FallNationals
Where does Alexis DeJoria rank in the 2026 Funny Car standings?
DeJoria holds seventh place in the 2026 NHRA Funny Car point standings with 2,215 points after 17 of 20 races, trailing sixth-place Ron Capps by 25 points.
What is the Battle for the Saddle bonus at the Texas Motorplex?
The Battle for the Saddle offers a $15,000 bonus awarded to the low qualifier of Friday night’s qualifying session in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories.
When did Alexis DeJoria first race at the Texas Motorplex?
DeJoria first attempted to qualify a nitro Funny Car at the Texas Motorplex during her abbreviated four-race 2011 season.
Driver Mindset and Personal Pursuits
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,
DeJoria said. 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.
I just don’t quit,
DeJoria added. 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.
Away from the drag strip, DeJoria finds relaxation through riding. I absolutely love finding time to get on one of my motorcycles and get in some two-wheel therapy,
she stated. It works every time.
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