DI CLASSIC: Alexis DeJoria's New Expectations|

In every life, things alter. When Alexis DeJoria first appeared on the cover of Drag ILLUSTRATED during her debut flavor in 2007, she was focused entirely on getting her anxiety wet and making steady progress as she continued her climb into the upper echelons of drag racing. Her emphasis to that point had been the polar contrary of what near would await out of someone like DeJoria – daughter of iconic entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria and heir to his billion-dollar business empire. Rather than simply buy a seat in one of Don Schumacher's front-running fuel Funny Cars or Acme Fuelers, which she most assuredly could have, DeJoria committed herself to doing information technology the correct way; attending Frank Hawley's Elevate Racing Schoolhouse, starting out in a Super Gas roadster and so a Super Comp dragster before taking the leap into Top Alcohol Funny Car.

Five years afterward – some other large move, another Drag ILLUSTRATED encompass – DeJoria is still taking her racing career one pace at a time. Rolling into her sophomore yr behind the wheel of the Patrón Tequila Nitro Funny Car nether the Kalitta Motorsports umbrella, she's finally beyond the hoopla and born anxiety that came with her rookie flavor.

"Final year was my first twelvemonth and there was a lot of publicity and interviews all the fourth dimension," says DeJoria, looking back on her first season as a member of the NHRA pro ranks. "Coming out this year, nosotros're hoping nosotros can keep things somewhat calm."

For a single female parent who spends 23 weekends a year manhandling a 10,000-horsepower Nitro Funny Automobile, calm isn't easy to come by. Add together to that the glory condition that comes with her family's namesake, the fan post-obit fastened to being a touring pro on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series excursion and the buzz surrounding her late 2012 engagement to motorcycle-building television bad boy Jesse James, and it's hard to imagine DeJoria will experience anything close to at-home in 2013. That doesn't mean the Del Worsham protégé isn't settling into her part this year, having go acclimated to the nasty nature of drag racing'due south near dangerous hot rods, fabricated some mistakes and had some shut calls.

"Being that nosotros were a new team, there was a lot of learning going on in our offset year together," explains DeJoria. "Not only was it my get-go year as a total-time Funny Motorcar commuter, merely we had rookie crew members and Del [Worsham] equally a first-time crew chief too, so it was a learning feel for all of us."

Admittedly, in that location may not come a lot of glory with struggling through your offset season in the pros, but the noesis and experience gained while driving a race car that doesn't always go down the track is invaluable. From DeJoria's vantage point, she may accept done more towards furthering her career and growing as a driver shaking, smoking and pedaling last year than she would have if she won every race.

"Driving a car that doesn't ever make it downwards, you definitely take a lot of learning opportunities," she says. "You have to go better at pedaling the car and things like that. It's easy to drive these cars when they get right downwardly every time. It's when they don't go downwards the rail, when they're all over the place, that you get to castor up on your skills."

Though DeJoria recognizes the learning process isn't yet backside her, she's taking an entirely dissimilar outlook with her into this race season. Her natural competitive fire has her ready to win; set up to experience like a contender, and information technology's looking similar the pieces are in identify for that to become a reality.

It's been 5 years since our kickoff conversation and, clearly, a lot has happened since and then. Back in 2007, we knew nitro racing was likely on the horizon for yous, but you lot were content to earn your stripes in the sportsman ranks. Still today, I tin can't say enough virtually your humble approach. We all know information technology didn't have to be that way.

To me, there was never really whatever other choice. That's the only fashion I could run into it really working; that's the just way I could run into doing it. My father raised the states with very good work ethic; that y'all have to work difficult for something you lot want to attain and things weren't going to just be handed to us. He struggled when he grew up. He had a really hard life and things weren't given to him. He's instilled that in his children and I'm forever grateful for everything he'south taught me and my sisters and brothers.

Simply, honestly, I really idea the only way that I could actually, truly capeesh and empathise drag racing in every way possible was to start out just like anyone else would. Mainly because I had no history out there, no family that had ever raced or anything similar that. I knew nothing well-nigh information technology – clean slate, starting from scratch – and I really wanted to do information technology the right manner. Once y'all become into a nitro car – that's information technology. In that location's null amend than that, then I really wanted to appreciate the ride.

Well, it's certainly honorable, and I don't think anyone would debate that it's merely going to help you in the long run. You're starting your second full flavor in NHRA Nitro Funny Auto, but you're going on a decade in the sport. That said, was there ever a fourth dimension – fifty-fifty as recently as your rookie flavour last year – when y'all felt similar an outsider because you didn't necessarily have a racing full-blooded?

I wouldn't say an outsider, merely I definitely experience similar I'k in kind of a dissimilar identify, I guess. When you're going up against teams that have tons of experience in racing – the John Force's and the Don Schumacher's – it feels similar an uphill battle for sure. But working with the Kalitta family unit, who accept a ton of history in this sport, and being a part of what they're trying to accomplish and build is and so exciting.

There were some major moves within the Kalitta camp during the offseason – Del Worsham moved from crew master on your Patron Toyota to the driver of the DHL Toyota and Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar were brought in to tune for you. What's your accept on everything?

To be honest, it was a surprise to all of united states. We didn't look information technology. There were talks about Tommy and Glen coming over, but more than of a consulting deal to work on both cars. But so a few conversations happened between the big dogs and it merely seemed to them that this was the best idea. They put Del in the DHL Toyota and Tommy and Glen working on my car. They'll all work together on the tune-ups.

The 2-car squad, utilizing identical chassis, clutches, etc., seems to be the only manner to really brand a run at a championship in the fuel categories, right?

Nosotros've got both cars riding on the aforementioned chassis now. Last year, we tried to exercise some of it, just there wasn't a lot of crossover – i beingness a slip-tube chassis and the other rigid, which, obviously, changes everything. We were besides running 2 different clutch setups. This year we're trying to get both cars to be just exactly the same. Testing went really well in both cars, so we're pretty excited about this season.

It seemed like a perfect storm blazon situation last year when Del was brought on as your crew principal. He'd tuned his own motorcar for years aslope his dad and is one of the all-time Funny Car drivers of our time – seems similar a pretty good guy to have in your corner as a make-new commuter.

It was amazing, especially since I started with Del – information technology was his car that I got my license in, and he was at that place guiding me through the whole experience. So to have him as my coiffure chief in my rookie season, the comfort level was merely immeasurable. All the feel he had to offer me afterwards all his years driving that Nitro Funny Car, it was really awesome to exist able to bounce things off him since he'd already been through all of it. He has been a mentor, a crew master and a confidant for me. I can tell him things, and I can trust him with everything. I'g so glad I go to work with him and I'm really beholden of everything he brought to the tabular array.

Now he's going to be your teammate. What's that going to be like?

I have to say that I'm pretty excited. I never thought I'd exist racing confronting him.

Marker J. Rebilas photograph

Moving forward, it's got to experience like everything is meeting and you're poised to be a serious contender in Nitro Funny Car, but I have to ask what the big takeaway from 2012 was. Do you lot feel like you accomplished what you set out to?

In the offset, I tried to be fair to myself and say, 'I just hope to authorize at every race, peradventure go some rounds.' If I were to win a race, that'd just be amazing, just I tried not to put too much pressure on myself, or accept too loftier of expectations for the whole deal. I simply wanted to practise everything right. No one volition remember the great things you do, but they sure as hell remember the wrong things yous do. I learned that from Bob Newberry style back. He said, 'Yous make a fault out in that location and anybody's going to remember it, so choose your steps wisely.' That'south been the bargain for me since the beginning.

One time nosotros got to Bristol and went to the concluding, it was like, 'Wow, maybe this can happen; perhaps nosotros tin win this yr.' And so, one time I fabricated information technology to the last, that'southward all I wanted and I had pretty high expectations afterwards that. And so we ran fast in Englishtown; ran great numbers – 4.0s – but the consistency just wasn't at that place, and that was something that brought us downwardly and bummed us out. Then there were a few races where nosotros didn't authorize, and that was definitely upsetting. Some people would say there's naught to be ashamed virtually or bummed out about and that nosotros did great. Zippo catastrophic happened and I learned a lot, and so I'd say information technology's nigh fifty/l. I'm pleased, but at the same fourth dimension, I wouldn't say it was a peachy year. Information technology was good, but not great.

There'due south no shame in the kind of rookie twelvemonth you had, but I have to say it's beauteous that y'all're not satisfied.

Going into 2013 – new teammate, coiffure principal and all – are y'all feeling confident that you're going to exist contending for a title?

Yeah, we're out to win. I hope to go the auto in the superlative ten then we'll go from at that place. Last year, fifty-fifty if it was my start or fifth race, every fourth dimension I pulled up to that starting line I was planning on winning. That was my mind frame every fourth dimension, and that definitely carries over.

At this level, honestly, it takes that kind of confidence to win. Yous have to expect to win; though it is piece of cake to exist misconstrued.

You don't desire to be self, running effectually talking about winning every race. Growing upward through the ranks, I raced against Frank Manzo, and I remember him saying that all these immature guns come in and they boast and talk big nigh how they're going to come in and go that Wally and apathetic. He said, 'Yous know what I practice? I sneak in the back door and I snatch it.' He'due south the type of guy that doesn't say a damn thing and he goes out at that place and gets the Wally. I like that. I like that perspective. It's pretty crawly.

That'southward a great way to expect at it, and you can't really fence with a guy like Frank Manzo.

He'south got that tranquility confidence. He's super humble and I really look up to him.

Speaking of people you look upward to – now that you're over a twelvemonth into this whole nitro thing, what'southward been your male parent'southward reaction to his girl becoming a star in the sport of drag racing?

I call back it'south every young daughter's dream to brand her daddy proud at the end of the day, and I sure feel like I take. He absolutely loves NHRA drag racing. He'south a huge fan of the sport. He'south nonetheless kind of learning and he's got a ways to become, but he'due south very enthusiastic about it. He's made a lot of friends out at that place and it'south cool. He's come to the ropes a couple of times and signed autographs. Information technology feels skilful. He's a huge inspiration for so many people. He inspires me as well. He'south definitely my hero in life.

Dads always seem to accept that i story they tell; the 1 story that really taught them a lesson or whatever. Over the class of the last twelvemonth or so, driving this, what, x,000-horsepower Funny Car, what'south been the ane story you know yous'll tell when all this is behind y'all? Something you'll be forever grateful for or won't shortly forget?

Let's see… I'm a pretty patient person, simply patience truly is a virtue in elevate racing. I know that sounds kind of crazy – it's the fastest sport in the globe – just it's then of import to exist patient. When you're in these cars, four seconds doesn't feel similar four seconds. It'due south like an eternity in at that place. When you see the states pedal the cars, for usa it's similar forever taking your foot all the style off the throttle – it literally feels like an eternity. Just learning and having the patience required to let the car settle earlier yous go dorsum on the throttle is a challenge – it'south a lot unlike between the alcohol automobile and the nitro auto. In the booze machine you can become off and on it pretty quickly. In this nitro car you have to kind of roll back into the throttle, and that's been a big learning curve for me, but I think I've done pretty well.

I definitely could have been a little more patient out in Brainerd concluding year against John Force when he cerise-lit in the start round against me. I had no idea what he was doing over there, and I sure as hell didn't know he red-lit – I only knew he was out in front of me. I was trying to get my car down to the end as fast equally possible and well-nigh mid-track I was already in a sideways back-end migrate toward the centerline when I heard over the radio my crew get, 'Off! Off!' merely I'd already pedaled information technology and crossed the centerline. And so, I get down in that location and I'thou like, 'What happened?' And they're like, 'Oh, he ruby-red-lit.'

I was similar, 'I am and so lamentable, I didn't know.' I was just trying to go downward in that location and the thing was a bucking bronco. That's definitely one of the mistakes that I've learned from.

Hey, at least you're trying hard, right?

[Laughs]. Yeah, I'll always put the most pressure on myself, more than than anyone else ever could.

The learning experiences for you probably haven't all been bars to the drag strip accept they? Has having fans taken some getting used to?

Aye. In Top Alcohol, if you did have fans, they couldn't find you – you lot're way out at that place on the other side. I'd hear people say, 'We've been all over trying to notice you, and we didn't see any of your merchandise on the midway.' Back then, that's just how it was; if you had people come and find you for an autograph you were very thankful.

So, I've been trying to become used to information technology. Last year, I was kind of thrown into the burn. Existence a rookie is always going to be kind of wild and pretty packed. I'yard very appreciative whatever fourth dimension anyone wants my shorthand or to take a moving-picture show. I'grand in awe because I'm out hither doing what I dearest and to get that back up from the fans is amazing. I just try to be personable because they come all this way to watch you lot race.

Does being a parent of a child who's probably old enough to exist a fan of unlike things or people brand you lot think differently about your position?

Leah Pritchett, Melanie Troxel, DeJoria, and Courtney Strength at DeJoria's debut party.

Admittedly. I've been kind of diddled away by this, maybe but because I'one thousand a mom of a 10-year-one-time girl, merely I've been getting a lot of feedback from young girls saying that I've been an inspiration to them. That in itself is so huge to me. In this day and age, in this order, where girls are led to believe all the hoopla and stuff almost their epitome and everything like that, I definitely feel similar it'due south an accomplishment when you're opening the optics of our newer generations, specially the immature girls. For girls like Courtney, Erica, and myself, that's a huge deal right there.

Y'all always wonder what kind of person you'll be to your kids, what kind of role model you lot'll be. I experience pretty practiced at nighttime when I go to bed. Maybe I've inspired some little girl out there to do something more for herself and to be a go-getter and piece of work for something that's going to make her experience accomplished.

You're a natural and information technology's probably as axiomatic past your social media presence as it is anywhere. Was that something you took upon yourself to exercise?

It started with Facebook. They're like, 'You should have a Facebook page.' I didn't actually retrieve I'd exercise much with that, and then I started finding people that I used to get to school with and I thought that was pretty awesome and started going on that a lot more. And so it was Twitter and they wanted me to open up a Twitter account. I didn't know what to say; what do y'all say? Then it started flowing. Since then I've just kind of ran with it. I've always tried to continue it pretty real, too. I don't want to brand it seem like I'k someone I'm not.

I think that'due south pretty critical to the success of that kind of stuff.

Just considering I'm driving a Nitro Funny Motorcar, I wanted to make information technology clear that doesn't alter who I am; that I'm still me and I can still be crude around the edges. Yes, I'k a single mom and I'1000 out here going over 300 miles an hour, simply I'grand non ashamed to say that I'm just hanging out at domicile with my kids and making them dinner. There are and so many facets of life. I've tried to be pretty open in that sense.

There was a time when being a female drag racer was more than unique than it is now. Women are still certainly in the minority, but it's more than common now than ever. I've heard it said that it's not almost the advantage to be a woman in racing that information technology in one case was, in terms of media or sponsor attention, now that the biggest name in the sport, John Force, has two daughters in the pro ranks.

Well, information technology's got to be expected. Their male parent is so well known in this sport. Yous mention elevate racing to people that don't know much, if anything, almost information technology and they're still probably going to know John Force. I get that, too, but in a completely dissimilar profession – the beauty world. I get information technology, and I can definitely chronicle to them on that level. I'chiliad friends with Courtney and Brittany and I totally support them. I idea Courtney did an excellent job terminal yr.

Having experienced the red carpet-blazon affairs with your father and Patrón having been involved with other forms of motorsports on a large scale, exercise you feel at all like there'due south more the sport of drag racing can achieve?

For sure. My God, I call up there can be so much more. At that place'southward great sponsors out here, including Patron, and I think they tin leverage that then much more than. I think at that place were times when NHRA could have gone to that side by side level and for whatsoever reason, I don't know why, it just didn't happen. I think they could definitely experiment and try to go some new media attention, and hopefully the Mello Yello relationship will shine some new calorie-free on the drag racing world. There'southward some things that need to be changed, but I don't really want to say what they are. I've got to exist at least a little politically correct. [Laughs].

One thing that got a lot of attention late last year was your engagement to Jesse James. I have to ask, how did that come up to be?

Oh, funny. Really, he came out to a race in Dallas. It was the twenty-four hours earlier my birthday. He'south been friends with my dad for awhile, and he'southward sponsored Scott Kalitta'south Top Fuel dragster in the past, and he just came out to run into my dad, see the Kalittas and hang out at the races. That's how we met.

So elevate racing brought you two together – pretty absurd. He's a gear head, then he's got to dig seeing you bulldoze that auto.

Yep, for sure. I keep thinking maybe one of these days he'll make a nail in it. He loves the drag races, but he'due south more into off-road racing. He has a trophy truck that he races, the desert races and Baja stuff.

Will he be attending a lot of races with yous? I can't assist but experience like that'southward going to have some positive effect on the sport; get drag racing some attention in the mainstream media, perhaps.

Oh, yeah, he'll probably come to all of them. For me, more annihilation, information technology's just been really absurd to take a relationship with your other half, who can really relate. He goes out and he can talk to the guys on my team and they can share stories well-nigh whatever. They respect him; he respects them. And there'south a huge comfort level there, just to know that he's good with all of it. You don't feel like you take to babysit. He can hold his own, and that's a relief. I tin can't remember where we were, but my steering wheel needed to be welded and it was like the second race he'd come up out to and the guys were kind of nervous to ask him, only no one else there could have done it as good as him. When they asked he was like, 'Yeah, definitely.' He went in the trailer, welding mask and all, and fixed information technology for me. Everybody got a kicking out of it. They're similar, 'He's a keeper.'

On the topic of relationships, how difficult is it to remainder being a mother and travel to 24 races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series bout? I'm sure it can be a claiming at times.

Yeah, especially when y'all're gone 24 weekends a yr. I've just kind of learned on my own to be at home when I'm at abode. I take my kids to school. We have family dinners and we practise things together. When I'm at the races, I'm 100-percent at the races. Just when I'grand at dwelling, I'one thousand 100-pct at home. At the rails, every night I call her on the phone and we talk and check in. So, I'grand very much connected. Yeah, I take an odd task and I piece of work on the weekends. Most parents, almost moms work Mon through Fri; mine is flip-flopped. At that place'south times when we race back-to-back weekends and then there'south times when we don't race for two weeks straight, and then I just try to make the almost of information technology.

How continued is Bella with what her mom does?

She'southward getting more interested in it. At get-go, she was kind of like, 'Oh, that's absurd…whatever.' Towards the middle, she got more into the social attribute of it – hanging out with the other drivers' kids who are the aforementioned historic period, like Del's daughters, Antron Brown'southward daughter. And they all connect and run off, won't see her for hours, but I know she'south in adept hands considering it's a small circumvolve out there. But, right at present, that'south the big deal for her, going to the track and getting to see her friends.

Honestly, I think that'southward the big deal for all of us.

[Laughs]. I think yous're correct.

Photographs by Ron Lewis, Marking J. Rebilas, Gary Nastase and Alexis DeJoria Racing

This story originally appeared every bit the cover story in Drag Illustrated Issue No. 74, the Hottest Women Issue, in Feb/March of 2011.

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