JCM Racing Pre-Race Report: Epping

NHRA New England Nationals

Event 7 of 20

New England Dragway

Epping, N.H.

May 30 – June 1, 2025

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IDA ZETTERSTRÖM

Driver of the JCM Racing Top Fuel Dragster

2024 NHRA New England Nationals Recap:

N/A

Last Event (Charlotte 1):

Qualified 10th; First round exit (defeated by Shawn Langdon, Josh Hart in E1)

Noteworthy:

• This weekend marks Zetterström's first time competing at New England Dragway

• Zetterström did not compete at the most recent event in Joliet, Ill. She is currently running a partial schedule due to insufficient funding and is actively seeking partners for 2025 and beyond

  • During her time away from the track, Zetterström has been front-and-center promoting the sport of NHRA Drag Racing. Recent appearances include representing NHRA during the Business of Women’s Sports Summit and NASCAR Bristol race, as well as joining the NHRA.tv broadcast team during the Joliet event. The Epping event was added to Zetterström’s 2025 schedule post-Joliet to continue the momentum of keeping her visible in hopes of attracting new partners to support her on-track campaign

Fan Events:

• Friday, 4:15 p.m., Dodge driver autograph session at Dodge midway display

• Saturday, 10:15 a.m., Dodge driver autograph session at Dodge midway display

Quotable:

“I’m really happy to be able to add Epping to our schedule this year. It was not originally planned, but I'm super stoked to get back out there. I was at this race last year with the team, but not in a race car and I remember really liking the atmosphere and all the great fans there. It was a really fun area, and it will be great to come back and actually be in a car and competing this year. With it being another first-time racetrack for me, that always makes things extra interesting, but I’m glad I’ll get some track time there this weekend because that will certainly pay off for the future.

“I feel like when we left the four-wides in Charlotte we had the best race car we've had since we started this program, so I am extra excited to get back in the car this weekend and continue the momentum we found there. Our Top Fuel team is going into this weekend with great confidence and feel like we're in a very strong position to take on the field.”

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ALEXIS DEJORIA

Driver of the Bandero Café Funny Car

NHRA New England Nationals Event Highlights:

• 2014 event runner-up

• 2024 NHRA New England Nationals Recap:

• Qualified ninth; First round exit (defeated by Chad Green in E1)

Last Event (Chicago):

Qualified 11th; First round exit (defeated by Ron Capps in E1)

Career Statistics:

241 races; six wins, six No. 1 qualifiers

Noteworthy:

• DeJoria has strong New England roots having spent much of her childhood in the Narragansett, R.I. area

• DeJoria has long considered the New England Nationals to be a homecoming event, and always has a strong showing from her East Coast family who come out to support her

• Will be looking to June's four-race schedule to move solidly back into the top 10 in the Funny Car standings

Quotable:

“Epping marks the start of four races over a five-week span. It’s a grueling time of year but can also be a great opportunity to refine your program and make sure you’re well-situated, points-wise, heading into the second-half of the season. With back-to-backs like this, you get into a mode of consistency and progression, and for us, I feel like we’re doing really well so this will be a chance to build on that. All of our parts looked really clean after our last race out in Joliet. Unfortunately, we went out first round, but we also ran our best number of the season. We continue to just creep up on it and I really like my crew chiefs’ approach to tuning the car. They keep it consistent and are careful not to go over center.

“This weekend is shaping up to be a good one. We’re feeling well-prepped and refreshed. Epping is one of my hometown races, which makes it extra exciting for me. I have some family and friends coming out and am hoping to put on a great show for them.”