Mon, 2 Nov 2009, 09:32 PM Team Patron Breaks into Top 10 with Runner-up Finish

Courtesy of Robert Lawson

LAS VEGAS - Alexis De Joria driver of the Team Patron Alcohol Funny Car moved into the Top 10 in national points in the Lucas Oil Series with her runner-up finish today at the 9th Annual Las Vegas Nationals. Visiting the west coast for the first time this year, the Patron team lead by three-time World Champion Crew Chief Bob Newberry, began the weekend off conservative and managed to qualify 13th with a 5.70. Beginning race day against former teammate and number four qualifier Sean O'Bannon, De Joria and the Patron team needed to raise their performance level. After a close reaction time battle on the starting line, De Joria and the team had a trick up their sleeve and stepped up their performance with a 5.60 to defeat O'Bannon's 5.62.

During the second round eliminations, De Joria and the Patron team once again ran a competitive time of 5.67 to eliminate former division two competitor Keeter Ray's 5.90. Next on the ladder was the recent winner of the O'Reilly Fall Nationals John Lombardo Jr. After facing Lombardo in the final at the Fall Nationals, De Joria and the team had a score to settle. With an outstanding reaction time, Alexis and the Patron team defeated Lombardo Jr. with a holeshot victory 5.67 to 5.66. The Patron team has now made it to the final round in their last three races. De Joria's' opponent in the final was # 7 qualifier Dennis Oliver. After a quick turn around in the pit area, De Joria and the Patron team ran a quicker, but losing 5.64 to Oliver's 5.65.

"What an incredible weekend, said De Joria, this was are first trip to the west coast and it took us a few runs to adapt to the Vegas weather conditions compared to what we have raced in all year on the east coast. I couldn't be happier about how our Patron team continued to work on getting the car to run quicker". "We were the under dog going into first round and to be able to beat my former teammate again at this track two years in a row was a great way to start our day". "We ran our quickest number of the event and that helped build momentum to run with the best west coast cars in the country. Keeter has been running very well lately and to get around him and be able to race John Lombardo Jr. again and to even the score from Dallas was extremely exciting for the entire team". "We overcame a lot of challenges this weekend and while we didn't win, we have continued to keep focused on gaining points, moving into the top 10 is huge for us". "We have been in the final round at our last three races and I couldn't be more proud of how our Patron team has continued to improve all year long". "We have a great tune-up for the division seven race here in Las Vegas next weekend and hope we can keep making it to the final round!"

Next Event:
Division Seven race at The Strip in Las Vegas November 6 - 8, 2009

ESPN2 TV Schedule
11/8 - Eliminations: 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. (ET)

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