Alexis DeJoria hopes for luck at Englishtown

The Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Toyota Camry Funny Car team race haulers pulled into Old Bridge Township Raceway Park this morning to get setup and prepped for the 45th annual Toyota NHRA SummerNationals.

After a disappointing first round loss in Topeka, Kan. just days earlier, the Patrón XO Cafe team is looking to redeem themselves at the Toyota SummerNationals, the final race of a back-to-back three in a row stretch which took the team from Commerce, Ga., where despite qualifying in the top spot they were eliminated in the first round, then west to Topeka, and now finally back east to Englishtown, N.J.

"These last two back-to-back races have not been ideal but we have made some good runs and picked up bonus points along the way, said Alexis DeJoria, driver of the 10,000-horsepower purple, gold, and matte-black Toyota Camry.

The Topeka race was event No. 8 of the 24-race 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series. Over the first eight races, the team has picked up two event wins, secured a spot in the coveted Traxxas Shootout, and ran a history-making pass. At this weekend’s upcoming event in Englishtown, the XO Cafe team is looking for that third Wally and although a win at any track would be a great accomplishment, a win at Englishtown would be especially significant. “Englishtown is an important race because Toyota, our car sponsor, is the title sponsor of the race,” said the third year Funny Car pilot, adding, “Not to mention the emotional significance this race holds for the entire Kalitta Motorsports organization. This is a race we want to win! And a race I personally want to win more than anything."

The Kalitta Motorsports Patrón XO Cafe Toyota Camry Funny team is currently ranked third with 509 points. The team begins qualifying for the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at 4:45PM EST on Friday.

Alexis DeJoria Racing