These women don’t take a back seat

Reaching speeds of more than 325 mph, National Hot Rod Association drivers Alexis DeJoria and Courtney Force would blow past Danica Patrick as if NASCAR’s most famous female was in the breakdown lane.

“But we would run out of gas and she’d be running circles around us,” DeJoria said, jokingly.

Daughter of John Paul DeJoria — the co-founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair products and owner of Patron tequila — Alexis DeJoria is one of several women drivers enjoying breakout seasons heading into today’s 14th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

DeJoria has three wins in the Funny Car division and Force — the youngest daughter of 16-time NHRA champion John Force — has four.

Erica Enders-Stevens — who, along with her sister Courtney, was the subject of the 2003 Disney movie “Right on Track” — has four wins in the Pro Stock division and is bidding to become the first female to win a Pro Stock world title.

Other women competing today through Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the fifth of six races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs are Brittany Force — also John’s daughter — who is in the top 10 in Top Fuel, and Angie Smith, who is in the top 10 in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Courtney Force this year raced to the 100th NHRA victory by a female. Shirley Muldowney was the first of 14 females to win an NHRA race, in Top Fuel in 1976.

“Back in the day, some very strong, capable women broke open the doors and made it a lot easier for us to be a part of it,” said DeJoria, whose husband, Jesse James, doubles as one of her crew members.

DeJoria said her love for racing stems from being around sports cars owned by her father — who has a home in Summerlin and whose Patron corporate offices are based in Las Vegas.

She said she’s learned many valuable lessons from the self-made billionaire.

“Just his strong work mentality, never give up and fight for what you believe in,” she said. “Find something you’re really passionate about and try and make that your business. I followed what he did and here I am.”

DeJoria — who won here earlier this season and claimed victory at the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis as well — also has followed her father’s example of giving back to the community.

For the second straight year at the speedway, DeJoria will partner with the Nevada Health Centers to provide free mammograms for female fans attending the NHRA races here in support of breast cancer awareness month.

A mobile mammography unit known as a “mammovan” will be parked adjacent to the Kalitta Motorsports pit areas from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday. Women over the age of 40 are encouraged to get a free screening. Health insurance isn’t required.

About 1,000 women took advantage of the mammovan last year.

“It was just incredible. We got so many thank-you letters written by women who couldn’t have gotten it done any other way,” DeJoria, 37, said. “Some bought tickets to the race simply for that.”

DeJoria, who recently lost a close friend to the disease, will race here with a “Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness” decal on her Patron XO Cafe Toyota Camry Funny Car.

“Our car is incredibly powerful coming down that race track at over 300 mph, but the message that car’s going to carry is much bigger,” she said. “We’re definitely fighting the battle.”

As for the battle on the track, female NHRA drivers are enjoying one of their best seasons ever.

“It’s amazing to have this be the year that really shines for all the females in our sport,” Courtney Force, 26, said. “We’ve got a sport over here that might be male-dominated, but the females are starting to take over as well.”

Among females, Enders-Stevens is in the best position to win a championship, trailing Pro Stock leader Jason Line by 35 points after leading the standings for the majority of the year.

The 31-year-old started racing junior dragsters with her sister when she was 8 years old and the movie depicting her life story still runs on the Disney Channel, impacting countless kids.

“It’s something I’m asked frequently about at the race track, the fans at the back of the pit. I recognize that look in these kids’ eyes that I had before I started junior drag racing,” she said. “Standing at the back of Angelle’s (Sampey) pit, Shirley Muldowney’s pit, Shelly Anderson’s pit, looking at them like, man, I want to be like these ladies when I grow up.

“It’s cool to recognize that look in the young kids’ eyes now as they’re looking at me. It’s very surreal, humbling.”

Enders-Stevens said she’s honored to be part of the movement of female drag racers.

“I’m proud of the girls that have done it before me and the ones I’m having the opportunity to do it with now,” she said. “It’s just a pretty exciting time for our sport. I think we secretly root for each other. I know I do.”

■ NOTE — Qualifying is scheduled for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. today and Saturday, with eliminations starting at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at LVMS.com or by calling 800-644-4444.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33.