Who Won Funny Car at Indianapolis
CLERMONT — No matter what happens in their lives, most parents will tell you that nothing tops watching their children have success. Alexis DeJoria's dad saw that on drag racing's grandest stage Monday.
She won the Funny Car division at the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, making her the fourth woman to win a U.S. Nationals event in its 60-year history. Watching from the pits as she advanced to the final and knocked off NHRA legend John Force was John Paul DeJoria, her father and billionaire businessman perhaps best known for John Paul Mitchell hair care products.
This was better than closing on any business deal, said the elder DeJoria, who empire includes Patron Tequila, House of Blues nightclubs and Touchstone Natural Gas.
"It's the highest high in the world," John Paul said. "There's no drug or anything else that can make you feel like that."
Alexis wasn't the only first-time winner in the two marquee events. Rookie Richie Crampton — who was working on the crew of owner Morgan Lucas' car at this time last year — won the Top Fuel division, becoming its third first-time winner in the last four years.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself doing this," said Crampton, a native Australian who has lived in and around Indianapolis for the past 10 years.
They were worthy champions.
DeJoria grew up among massive wealth, but she's far from an overnight success. Her father required her to write up a business plan when she asked about Patron becoming a sponsor. She spent more than a decade working her way up through the lower levels of drag racing before finally moving into Funny Car in 2011.
This year, she earned wins at Las Vegas and Phoenix. She also became the first female to go under 4 seconds in a Funny Car. But on Sunday, she blew an engine during her heat in the Traxxas Shootout, a showdown with 16 of the circuit's top drivers. Ironically, it was against Force, whom she beat for the title Monday.
She didn't let it bother her going forward, saying, "that's Funny Car racing. It's what I signed up for."
"There's just so many variables," DeJoria said. "When you drive one of these cars, you've got to keep that in mind. It was an electrical thing that ended our day there. We knew it was a damn car and it was frustrating. We were able to shake it off and do it today."
On Monday, she beat Cruz Pedregon, Blake Alexander and Courtney Force – John's daughter – to reach the final. Her times ranged from 4.057 seconds to 4.112. She saved her best for the elder Force, roaring past him at the end and winning in 4.038 seconds, making her the first female driver to win three Funny Car races in the same season and earning team owner Connie Kalitta his second U.S. Nationals win.
It had DeJoria fighting back tears, even though she often comes across as the epitome of a tough, strong woman who proudly shows off her multiple tattoos and considers skydiving, snowboarding and riding dirt bikes as her hobbies. It wasn't just winning such a prestigious event. It was because of who was there.
"For my dad to be able to come to as many races as he does with his busy schedule is incredible," she said. "I am so happy to win when he's here. The last two times I won, he wasn't there.
"So congratulations Dad."
It was one proud Dad afterward.
"She built herself up over the years and she's damn good," John Paul said. "The last race proved it. It was head on. No one had a red light. She just outraced the champion John Force and won."
It was just as impressive of a day for Crampton, who was the epitome of consistency throughout the weekend. All of his runs were between 3.7 and 3.8 seconds except for the initial one on Friday.
He proved his mettle in the semifinals, when he narrowly beat nine-time champion and top qualifier Tony Schumacher, who had beaten Crampton in the Traxxais Shootout Top Fuel final Friday.
It wasn't like Schumacher gave it to him either. He's been at the top of his game all weekend and his time of 3.788 seconds. Crampton was just a little faster, however, at 3.784 seconds and the nose of his car got to the finish line first.
"I knew we would really have to do well to beat him," Crampton said of Shumacher. "He's kind of the king of Indianapolis."
He followed that up by powering past Steve Torrence – making his second straight finals appearance at the U.S. Nationals – to win in a time of 3.766 seconds, topping out at 327.98 mph.
"It's all right when you get a lucky break, but it feels a little better when you run good in every run," crew chief Aaron Brooks said.
It was the second win of the season for Crampton, showing why Lucas had so much confidence in him after he decided to run a reduced schedule as a driver to take a larger role in the family business, Lucas Oil.
"From a team owner's standpoint, it's just a different kind of reward," said Lucas, who qualified for Monday's Top Fuel competition as a driver but lost in the first round. "You know you helped put together a group that gels and performs well together.
"I feel a little sense of pride that I saw some talent in Richie and I knew that he could do it and he had the talent to do it. Look at him now. The guy is making all this progress."
Crampton wasn't sure how would celebrate the win. DeJoria had a pretty good idea how she would celebrate hers.
"I haven't been able to think all day," she said. "I'm wound up tighter than a $2 watch. I sure do want a shot."
"Of Patron," her father added.
Call Star reporter Michael Pointer at (317) 444-2709. Follow him on Twitter @michaelpointer.
Source: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2014/09/01/alexis-dejoria-makes-history-wins-funny-car-division-us-nationals/14945053/
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