Alexis DeJoria Wins Mission Challenge In Chicago

2FAST2TASTY Funny Car Winner: Alexis DeJoria

Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK
Event 6 of 20
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
May 15 – 17, 2026

Alexis DeJoria Races To First Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Win of the Season in Chicago

By: ABM Communications (Photos Courtesy ABM Communications)

JOLIET, Ill. (May 16, 2026) – Alexis DeJoria, the driver of the Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car, earned a victory for John Force Racing (JFR) today at the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK. DeJoria won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, a specialty race that takes place during qualifying on Saturday. DeJoria defeated J.R. Todd and her teammate Jordan Vandergriff on her way to victory.

This is DeJoria’s first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win this season and her second overall. 

DeJoria’s qualifying pass of 3.994 seconds at 329.42 mph on Friday secured her place in the field so the talented Funny Car pilot could turn her focus to competition on Saturday. In a repeat of the semifinals two weeks ago in Georgia, DeJoria lined up against Todd. Track conditions were tricky but crew chiefs Mike Neff and Jonnie Lindberg expertly tuned the Bandero Café Funny Car to a pass of 4.015 at 323.35 to turn on the win light while Todd ran into tire smoke early in the other lane. 

In an all-JFR final, DeJoria lined up against Vandergriff, who made a great pass earlier in the day, so fans were excited to watch a close side-by-side final between the two competitors. Fate, however, had other plans. After Vandergriff’s burnout, his clutch wouldn’t engage, causing him to shut off and cede the triumph to DeJoria, who experienced intense tire shake after leaving the starting line. Nevertheless, the Bandero Café Funny Car team got it done, picking up a cash prize and valuable bonus points in the process.

“We’re finally back to winning,” remarked DeJoria. “It came at the cost of my teammate and it was a lackluster final. But we got the ‘W’ and that’s all that matters. I just had a feeling we were going to win it today. I knew it in my heart. I definitely didn’t expect to win like that. We’ve been really consistent. That last pass was the only time we didn’t get down the track. Getting to bring a win to JFR is huge. Working with John Force is just a dream come true. After going to the finals in Gainesville (at the season opener), I thought for sure we would get a win soon after that, but it took a little longer. We’ve had some ups and downs. Some of the tracks have been pretty tricky. We’ve had to do some pedal jobs. Sometimes you come out on the good side and sometimes you don’t. That’s the challenge of this class and part of what I love about it. We’re just getting started and we’ve got a lot left to show.”

When competition in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series begins tomorrow, DeJoria will start eliminations from the 12th spot on the ladder and will face the No. 5 qualifier, Spencer Hyde, in the opening round.