NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Reigning NHRA world champ Del Worsham drive the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota of teammate Alexis DeJoria during the two-day test session this week at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis in advance of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals.

Alexis DeJoria’s crash at Sonoma Raceway last month, both DeJoria and her race car needed time away from the race track to repair and recover. DeJoria required healing time for a fractured pelvis and her Patrón Toyota Camry needed repair following structural damage to the body and chassis. 
 
Members of the Tequila Patrón Funny Car team have worked tirelessly upon returning to Kalitta Motorsports headquarters in Ypsilanti, Mich., following the crash that sidelined DeJoria and her team for the past two NHRA Mello Drag Racing Series events. After front-halving two chassis and preparing DeJoria’s repaired Toyota Camry body, Team Patrón, led by crew chiefs Tommy DeLago and Glen Huszar, feels confident that they have a car that’s ready to return to the race track.
 
The test session offers DeLago the opportunity to make test runs with DeJoria’s newly rebuilt Funny Car. DeJoria’s teammate and mentor Worsham will pilot her Patrón Toyota Camry at the Indianapolis test session while DeJoria continues to undergo physical therapy and focus on her rehabilitation.
 
“We want to make sure this car is 100 percent ready for Alexis when she is prepared to make her return,” said DeLago. 

“Putting Del in the seat gives us the opportunity to knock the rust off and make sure any gremlins are sorted out while Alexis continues to recover. We’re still hoping and planning on racing at Indy next week. Whether it’s Indy or not, we’ll know with complete confidence that we’re entering our first race back with a car that is ready to compete with the best of them.”
 
DeLago plans on making eight test runs with Worsham over the course of Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 25. The newly front-halved Kalitta Motorsports’ produced Bounty Hunter chassis will be utilized during the test session and remain as DeJoria’s primary chassis.
 
DeJoria and the Kalitta Motorsports Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car team are scheduled to compete next at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Sept. 2-5, although their entry in the event remains uncertain at this time.