Nitro and Tequila – Today’s perfect mix!

Alexis DeJoria pours at Moe’s Cantina in Chicago – Gary Nastase photo

This Friday is National Tequila Day, a great day to celebrate the elixir that flows readily from south of the US border. Those of us working the Mopar Mile High Nationals NHRA race at Bandimere Speedway will just have to lick our lips as we walk past the tents of Alexis DeJoria, who drives the Patrón XO Cafe Incendio Toyota Camry Funny Car for Kalitta Motorsports.

DeJoria, who famously won last year’s 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, has been having a somewhat rough season. Where she won three races in 2014, she’s come up empty-handed thus far in the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. As ever, these things run in cycles – some days you’re up; the next you’re down but DeJoria and her Tommy DeLago-led team are persevering and will surely make it to the Winner’s Circle again this year.

In the meantime, we can celebrate National Tequila Day for Alexis DeJoria and her Patrón Spirits-sponsored team. And if we need inspiration, perhaps we can use her recipes for race-themed cocktails, like the ones she poured at Phoenix earlier this season or prior to the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, held earlier this month.

The day before racing began at Joliet, DeJoria went to Moe’s Cantina in downtown Chicago and served patrons with race-themed drinks. Her particular favorite is The 771, which is her Toyota Camry Funny Car’s race-car number. It includes Patrón XO Cafe Incendio, Patrón Reposado Tequila and Horchata (made of ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley or tigernuts). She’s also treated clients to the Incendio Racer, which pairs Patrón XO Cafe Incendio with cream. There’s also the XO Cafe Funny Car beverage with Patrón XO Cafe and San Pellegrino Aranciata, the latter an orange-flavored sparkling water.

Just as in Phoenix, the turnout at Moe’s Cantina was good and DeJoria was able to socialize with many of the clients and introduce them to NHRA drag racing. No doubt her winning personality induced many a visitor to the Route 66 dragstrip.

Perhaps, in honor of National Tequila Day this Friday, DeJoria will be mixing her father’s favorite margarita, The Perfect Patrón Margarita? “Everybody loved it,” when she served John Paul DeJoria’s favorite drink in Chicago. “I think I probably made at least ten of them!”

Alexis DeJoria and the entire NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series traveling circus will convene on Friday through Sunday at Bandimere Speedway, just shy of 6,000 feet above sea level. At that altitude maybe no one will need National Tequila Day to attain a Rocky Mountain high?

By Anne Proffit