Alexis DeJoria Racing is going back to its roots for the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Operating out of the Kalitta Motorsports camp, The Patrón Spirits Co.-backed Toyota Camry Funny Car team will once again sport the iconic Patrón green as it returns to the distiller’s signature Patrón Silver label in 2016.
Pilot of the 10,000-horsepower Tequila Patrón Toyota Camry Funny Car, Alexis DeJoria began her NHRA career in 2005 representing the ultra-premium spirits company’s Patrón Silver brand. Making her debut in a black and green Patrón Super Gas Corvette roadster, DeJoria turned heads in the recognizable color scheme as she progressed through the NHRA ranks, eventually making her highly anticipated Funny Car debut in 2011.
DeJoria’s race team became synonymous with the Tequila Patrón brand. After eight years in green, the team showed up to the 2014 season opener in Pomona in purple and gold. The team represented the Patrón XO Café liqueur brand throughout the 2014 season until the final race of the year when they surprised fans with a red, orange, and yellow car emblazoned with Patrón’s latest incarnation, Patrón XO Café Incendio. While the Incendio brand was originally intended to be a one-race-only look, fan response was so positive that the new colors remained for the 2015 season.
As the Patrón team enters its fifth year of Funny Car racing, they will return to the quintessential green Patrón Silver scheme.
“Alexis and the entire Patrón team were tremendous partners in helping us launch and generate excitement and awareness for the new Patrón XO Café Incendio. However, in 2016, we decided to return to the classic Tequila Patrón livery on Alexis’ Toyota Camry Funny Car for the 2016 season. Additionally, this more closely aligns Alexis DeJoria Racing with our global motorsports marketing platform, including our Tequila Patrón ESM team, racing in the World Endurance Championship series,” said Lee Applbaum, chief marketing officer at Patrón Spirits. “Though it can sometimes be difficult to see clearly at 300 mph, we couldn’t be more proud to fly our colors, and our iconic Patrón Silver bottle, on Alexis’ incredible 10,000-horsepower race car.”
A three-time Funny Car winner, DeJoria couldn’t be more excited about the decision to return to the classic Tequila Patrón livery.
“We started our first season in Funny Car branded with Patrón Silver. I love the way the green and silver looks on the car; it’s incredibly sharp,” said DeJoria. “It makes sense to represent the company’s flagship spirit on our Toyota Camry. I think the fans will like it, too — it’s very recognizable. Everybody knows that label. When you think of Patrón, you automatically think of the Patrón Silver bottle. Over the years, we’ve had a lot of fun with the other Patrón brands on our car, but I’m really happy to get back to our roots for year five.”
