Alexis DeJoria Joins John Force Racing for 2026 Expansion

A Landmark Signing That Reshapes the 2026 Landscape

John Force Racing’s announcement on December 2, 2025, did more than confirm a new driver — it sent a ripple through the entire Funny Car category. With the signing of U.S. Nationals champion Alexis DeJoria, the 24-time championship organization officially expands to a four-team structure for 2026, marking one of the most formidable lineups in modern NHRA competition. DeJoria — the only woman currently competing in Funny Car — joins a team headlined by Jack Beckman, Top Fuel contender Josh Hart, and an upcoming driver set to pilot the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car. Her Bandero Premium Tequila brand continues as her primary partner, solidifying consistency even amid change.

For DeJoria, the move represents both a career milestone and a dream she never expected to materialize.

“Being asked to join John Force Racing is a huge honor and an incredible opportunity to build upon my career,” she said. “Since day one, my goal has been to become the sport’s first female Funny Car world champion… To be invited to drive for John Force Racing means so much to me and is another step forward in my career.”

Her resume backs up the opportunity. Since entering NHRA competition in 2005, she climbed the ladder from Sportsman to Top Alcohol Funny Car — even running her own operation at one point — before transitioning to nitro Funny Car in 2011. She became the first woman to break the three-second barrier in Funny Car (3.997 at Pomona in 2014), earned six national event wins, and collected six top-10 finishes. She defeated John Force for her first professional round-win in 2012, and later her biggest victory came at the 2014 U.S. Nationals — again, over Force in the final.

Now, she joins the man she once beat on the sport’s biggest stage.

“Alexis is a fierce competitor who has earned her place in the Funny Car ranks,” Force said. “There will never be another John Force, and the fact that I get to drive for the legend himself is a true highlight of my career,” DeJoria added, calling Force “NHRA Drag Racing” personified.

Why This Partnership Matters — and What Comes Next

For John Force Racing, the signing echoes previous eras when the team fielded powerhouse four-car operations, most notably from 2008–09 and 2013–18. The model works — shared data, shared brainpower, and an internal ecosystem of constant advancement. DeJoria recognizes the advantage:

“Having Funny Car teammates is a little different because you can work off each other… the ability to share information amongst the crew chief braintrust will be a great competitive advantage that I haven’t had since the Kalitta days nearly a decade ago.”

The move wasn’t sudden. DeJoria confirmed it had been in motion as far back as late 2024.

“The timing wasn’t right… but then the opportunity presented itself once again a few months back, and it just wasn’t something I could pass up.”

From there, the path to 2026 became clear.

Looking ahead, DeJoria’s goals are focused yet grounded.

“JFR is a whole different beast… the first few weeks I plan to focus on getting myself acquainted with their style,” she said. Still, the mission remains unchanged: “From a performance perspective, the goal remains the same – run for a championship… I have no doubt we’re absolutely going to hit the ground running next season.”

With DeJoria’s arrival, John Force Racing isn’t just adding another driver — it’s adding a force of its own. Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain: the 2026 season just became a lot more interesting.