Heiress Alexis DeJoria finds her glamour in roar of engines: NHRA Notebook

The tattoos on her arms and the lead in her foot make it clear drag racing provides DeJoria's self-worth, and a chance to bond with her father, John Paul Jones DeJoria, who co-founded a lucrative hair-care company.

NORWALK, Ohio -- In an era when daddy's deep pockets, combined with a smile, long legs and a runway physique constitutes a "career," Alexis DeJoria offers a refreshing change of pace.

The heiress daughter to the John Paul Mitchell hair care empire is camped out this weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals for her first visit to Norwalk's Summit Motorsports Park. She is racing a Top Alcohol Funny Car, instead of walking a red carpet, cutting her own path in a male-dominated sport instead of living off daddy's name.

"I don't get it," DeJoria said of the world where some women are making a career out of showing up at premieres and award shows, frequenting trendy night spots, and "reality" shows of the rich being rich.

"I love going to those events with my dad. I love wearing a dress and heels. But I don't get caught up in the facade. I don't understand that whole arena. Where is your self-worth?"

Tall and willowy, DeJoria could clearly join those ranks. But the tattoos on her arms and the lead in her foot make it clear drag racing provides her self-worth, and a chance to bond with her father, John Paul Jones DeJoria -- a once-homeless man who, with the late Paul Mitchell, founded the lucrative hair care company in 1980.

"He came to about five of the races last year," DeJoria said. "He gets dirty with the cars. I've proven myself to my father, and that feels good. He gives me the nod."

Now into her fourth season, her second full time, DeJoria feels she has crossed the bridge from being viewed as a novelty to being viewed as a competitor. "At first, I got a lot of that," she said. "People thought I was here on a whim. But this is a passion of mine. I am dedicated and here to stay."

She proved that last year. After an explosive crash in New Jersey, her Patron Race team completely rebuilt the car. DeJoria admits "having the funds in the bank" was great for helping rebuild the car. "But experience is better equity than money."

DeJoria's love of speed began at an early age. Before she was 10, her first career goal was to be a fighter pilot. By the time she was old enough to drive, her father set what was hoped to be speed-limiting ground rules.

"He said my first car had to be used, and it had to be big," DeJoria said. After some time and research, she found a used GMC Typhoon, a rare SUV that had a short life span (1992-93), but came with a turbo-charged engine with race-car horses under the hood that auto magazines compared to those in a Ferrari.

That car soon led to a 1967 Chevelle which DeJoria could race and still owns, plus a 1965 Lincoln, "with the suicide doors for driving around."

Now 32 years old, DeJoria claims: "I'm not afraid to say it. I earned those years."

And it wasn't by spending her days at premieres and award shows.

Salute! For the fourth straight year, U.S. Army Top Fuel driver Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher has been nominated for the ESPY Best Driver Award.

The ESPYs will be hosted by "Saturday Night Live" "Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers on Wednesday, July 14, at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. The awards show will be televised live by ESPN at 9 p.m.

"Here we go again," said Schumacher, a seven-time drag champion. "Perhaps, this will be our year. I really want to win this award so I can present it to our brave Army Strong Soldiers. Without their hard work, we wouldn't have these opportunities in life."

Joining Schumacher on the Best Driver ballot are NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Ron Hornaday, as well as open wheel standout Dario Franchitti.

"I hope we finally break through," Schumacher said. Giddy-up: The 26th annual K&N Horsepower Challenge at noon today will include four former champions for the Pro Stock event among the among the eight in the field.

The former champs include Greg Anderson, racing with the black and red Summit colors; Allen Johnson; Columbus product Jeg Coughlin; and Warren Johnson, with the only rookie in the field being Rodger Brogdon from Texas.

Ohio represents one-fourth of the field as Ron Krisher from Warren will look for his first K&N Horsepower Challenge victory in his sixth career attempt in the event. The top seven finalists earn their way into the field based on points accumulated over the last year. The eighth entry is selected by the fans. This year the fans' choice was Johnson.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexand@plaind.com, 216-999-4253