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JCM Racing Post-Race Recap: Reading
- Ida Zetterstrlm
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 17
NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish
Event 15 of 20
Maple Grove Raceway
Mohnton, Penn.
Sept. 12 – 14, 2025
Alexis DeJoria Advances to Quarterfinals at First Race of NHRA Countdown
READING, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2025) – NHRA Countdown to the Championship-challenger Alexis DeJoria advanced into the quarterfinals on race day at the NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish. Coming off a strong semifinal finish at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, DeJoria and her first-year JCM Racing Funny Car team continued to impress at the first of six playoff races. While she had hoped for a longer Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway, DeJoria has nothing but confidence as she and the team prepare for the upcoming NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals next weekend.
Aboard the Bandero Café Funny Car, DeJoria opened qualifying with a 4.007 effort on Friday afternoon before powering to a 3.948 E.T. at 329.36 mph in the second round to place her in the provisional No. 10 spot after day one. DeJoria encountered traction issues in the third session, but closed out qualifying with a 3.983-second pass.
Starting from 10th, DeJoria faced No. 7 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson in round one of eliminations. DeJoria moved first and powered to a 3.955 E.T. versus Wilkerson’s 3.953-second effort to score the holeshot win and advance into round two, where she faced Paul Lee. Crew chiefs Mike ‘Zippy’ Neff and Todd Smith tuned the Bandero Café machine to another stout pass of 3.958 seconds, which held up to be the quickest run of the quarterfinals, but this time it was DeJoria’s opponent who came out on top thanks to his quicker reaction time, ending her day sooner than she had hoped.
“We made three full pulls out of four during qualifying,” said DeJoria, who was competing in her 250th Funny Car event over the weekend. “Didn’t get as high up in the qualifying order as we had hoped, so didn’t have lane choice, but it didn’t matter because we got the win despite that left lane being tricky. Ran a great number and got it on a holeshot. Second round, we ran the quickest E.T. of the session, but unfortunately, I missed it on the starting line and got beat. So, won on a holeshot and got beat on a holeshot, but right now, we’ve got a really good car and we’re consistent. We ran a 3.955 first round and a 3.958 second round, and I’m just really happy. We’re jamming, we’re making good runs, and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
DeJoria leaves Reading ranked ninth in the Funny Car standings. She will continue to pursue more round wins and championship points next weekend at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals in Concord, N.C., the series’ first four-wide playoff event. DeJoria returns to the Charlotte-area facility after having advanced to the final quad at the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway earlier this season.
Qualified: No. 11 (3.948 E.T. at 329.26 MPH)
Elimination Round Results:
E1: 3.955 E.T. at 329.75 MPH defeated Daniel Wilkerson 3.953 E.T. at 322.96 MPH
E2: 3.958 E.T. at 329.75 MPH defeated by Paul Lee 3.962 E.T. at 326.71 MPH
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car Point Standings (Unofficial):
1 | Austin Prock |
| 2173 |
2 | Jack Beckman |
| 2148 |
3 | Ron Capps |
| 2144 |
4 | Paul Lee |
| 2138 |
5 | Matt Hagan |
| 2118 |
6 | Cruz Pedregon |
| 2108 |
7 | J.R. Todd |
| 2082 |
8 | Spencer Hyde |
| 2080 |
9 | Alexis DeJoria |
| 2073 |
10 | Dan Wilkerson |
| 2070 |
About JCM Racing:
Established in 2022, the Maynard family’s JCM Racing organization is a multi-car NHRA team owned by Joe and P.J. Maynard. The executive staff operates out of Clarksville, Tennessee, while the team’s racing headquarters is located in Brownsburg, Indiana. JCM Racing owns 11 national event wins to date.
Competing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series as the sport’s first all-female nitro team, Alexis DeJoria drives the Bandero Premium Tequila Funny Car while Ida Zetterström pilots the JCM Racing Top Fuel dragster. DeJoria is a multi-time NHRA national event champion and the first woman to break the three-second barrier in the Funny Car category. In addition to her six Funny Car triumphs, DeJoria found success in the Sportsman ranks and is the only driver to own the trifecta of Super Comp, Top Alcohol Funny Car, and Funny Car victories. Hailing from Sweden, Zetterström is a European drag racing champion on both two wheels and four, having become the first woman to win an FIM Super Street Bike title in 2019 and again in 2020. Before relocating from Sweden to the Indianapolis area to prepare for her 2024 NHRA debut, Zetterström also clinched the 2023 FIA European Top Fuel crown.
In an effort to support the future generations of drag racers, JCM Racing operates a Driver Development program, which provides assistance to youngsters competing in the NHRA’s Jr. Drag Racing League.
For more information, visit @jcmnitro on Twitter and Instagram, @JCMNitro on Facebook, and JCMNitro.com
Media Contacts:
Allison McCormick
(305) 764-5377
Jessica Hatcher
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