PASADENA – Alexis DeJoria wanted to be fighter pilot when she was a kid. She’s become probably the next best thing for a thrill seeker who also happens to be the daughter of the owner of a hair-care product empire.
DeJoria is a driver on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. She begins her rookie campaign in the NHRA Funny Car division this weekend at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals at Pomona Raceway.
DeJoria, the daughter of John Paul DeJoria, the owner of Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products, said during a media lunch at Ruth Chris Steak House in Pasadena on Wednesday that she inherited the racing bug from her father. In addition to making a fortune selling hair spray and gels, he liked to drive and occasionally race fast cars.
Alexis went to work for her father’s company as a teenager, but, as she said, “made a left turn out of the family business” and pursued a career as a drag racer.
The 34-year-old driver competed in four NHRA Funny Car races last year, qualifying for three events. She made her debut at Pomona Raceway in the Auto Club Finals in November.
She also likes tattoos. She says she has 16 of them, the most recent, an ode to racing which includes an F-15 Strike Eagle surrounded by piston rods and checkered flags.
She also has a tattoo with her daughter’s name, Isabella, on her left wrist.
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