NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Alexis DeJoria will have a cadre of friends and family cheering her on at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, and she’s hoping the Night Stalker tribute paint scheme on her John Force Racing Bandero Café Chevrolet SS Funny Car will provide that little something extra to put her in the Indianapolis Raceway Park winner’s circle on Labor Day Monday.

It was 1973 when John Force attempted to make his Funny Car debut in a rear-engine chain-drive entry at Irwindale (Calif.) Raceway. Force named it Night Stalker and created the unique paint scheme based on the 1972 made-for-TV movie starring the late Darren McGavin. It was a less-than-successful venture, but Force went on to win the 2009 Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, running a Night Stalker tribute paint scheme.

“We were at the shop one day, and Alexis said the car her dad always loved the most was the Night Stalker,” said Force. “That was the rear-engined, chain-drive car with the driver out front that Jack Chrisman built and that I drove briefly in the early 1970s. The Night Stalker TV movie was big at the time so we painted ‘Night Stalker’ with a caped goblin on the side of it. Alexis loved the idea, so that’s the paint scheme her Bandero Café Chevy will be running at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.”

DeJoria is currently eighth in the point standings and only 34 points out of sixth place going into the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals, the final event of the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season.

How was the decision made for you to run the John Force Night Stalker paint scheme from back in the 1970s?

“I was really excited when I found out the other two John Force Racing Funny Cars were doing special liveries and wanted to be part of it. So, I asked if our team could do the Night Stalker paint scheme that was John Force's very first nitro Funny Car back in the mid-1970s. The Bandero Café car is already black, but it’s just the fact that the Night Stalker is one of the coolest liveries I've seen from John Force's camp. More than anything, I wanted to do it to show support for my new boss and my new team.”

What does it mean to be a Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals Funny Car champion?

“If there’s one trophy above all that a team wants, it’s the one from the U.S. Nationals. My team and I won the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Nationals, and that was special due to that fact that there will never be another 60th. The same can be said of this year’s 75th.”

What are your memories of winning the 2014 U.S. Nationals?

“The 2014 season was a breakout year for us. Adding the Chevrolet Performance 60th Anniversary U.S. Nationals win was beyond belief, especially winning the final round against none other than the man himself, John Force. It was a daughter/father duo that day, from beating my friend and competitor at the time, Courtney Force, in the semifinals to beating John in the final. It was a very proud moment to beat the best in front of my family and friends on the biggest stage.”

What are your thoughts on participating in this year’s PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Call Out?

“I’ve been in quite a few of these grudge matches and came close to sealing the deal in 2014. It’s something that’s eluded us but we have a great chance this year to put ourselves in a position to do so this year.”