Bandero Premium Tequila Photo
Former teammates reunite under the Team Bandero banner for the 72nd annual NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis
Bandero Premium Tequila Doubles Down at the NHRA U.S. Nationals with Alexis DeJoria and Ida Zetterström
Bandero Premium Tequila is doubling
down at the Big Go. With NHRA’s largest and most iconic event as the
backdrop, Bandero will put its brands on full display in the sport’s
premier Top Fuel and Funny Car categories at the 72nd annual Cornwell
Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Sept. 4 – 7, at Indianapolis
Raceway Park.
Alexis DeJoria will carry the Bandero Café colors in Funny Car, while
Ida Zetterström will return to Top Fuel competition in a Bandero
Premium Tequila dragster. The pairing reunites the former teammates
under the Team Bandero banner and gives the brand two proven competitors
representing it throughout drag racing’s marquee weekend.
Bandero’s relationship with Zetterström began during the 2025 NHRA
season when she competed alongside DeJoria at JCM Racing. The 2023 FIA
European Top Fuel champion and two-time FIM Super Street Bike champ
impressed with the way she connected with fans, and the enthusiasm she
brought to delivering for her partners both on and off the track. When
the opportunity arose to add a Bandero Top Fuel entry for Indianapolis,
Zetterström was the natural choice.
“Indy is where you show up in a big way,” said Jonathan Kendrick,
co-founder and CEO of Bandero Premium Tequila. “NHRA has an incredibly
loyal fan base, and the U.S. Nationals is the biggest stage in the
sport. Alexis has done a tremendous job of highlighting the Bandero
brand, and after getting to know Ida last season, we knew she was
someone we wanted to continue working with. We’re especially proud to
have two accomplished women carrying our brands in Top Fuel and Funny
Car, and we couldn’t ask for better representatives at an event of
this magnitude.”
Zetterström’s Bandero Premium Tequila dragster will be fielded by
Shawn Reed Racing and will also feature GlobalSKU branding, while
DeJoria will compete in her John Force Racing-prepared Bandero Café
Funny Car.
The U.S. Nationals will mark Zetterström’s second appearance flying
the Bandero and GlobalSKU colors during the 2026 season, following her
first outing with both brands at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte
in April.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Bandero and GlobalSKU for bringing me
back for Indy,” said Zetterström. “The U.S. Nationals is one of
those races every driver wants on their schedule, and representing these
brands at an event with this much history and prestige means a great
deal to me. Getting to return to the track with Alexis under the Team
Bandero banner makes the weekend even more special. She and I have built
a great friendship, and anytime we have the opportunity to work
together, we always make the most of it.”
DeJoria has already made her mark at the Big Go, winning the U.S.
Nationals Funny Car title in 2014. She and Zetterström last raced as
teammates throughout 2025 before DeJoria joined the championship-winning
John Force Racing team ahead of the 2026 season. At Indianapolis, the
two will compete from separate team operations but with the common goal
of delivering a strong showing for Bandero at NHRA’s most prestigious
event.
“Ida and I really enjoyed being teammates last year, and I’m excited
that we get to do it again at Indy,” said DeJoria. “She’s a fierce
competitor and a great ambassador for any brand she works with. Having
Bandero in both nitro categories is a big deal. Bandero has been on
board with me since 2021, and this will be the first time that they have
a car in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. This is a really cool opportunity
for both of us, and we’re going there with our sights set on finishing
the weekend in the winner’s circle with a celebratory shot of
Bandero.”
The 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals will take
place Sept. 4 – 7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Nitro
qualifying gets underway on Friday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. ET with
broadcast coverage scheduled for Sept. 6 – 7 on FS1 and FOX.