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.
This story was originally published on August 25, 2026.
The post Bandero Premium Tequila Doubles Down at the NHRA U.S. Nationals with Alexis DeJoria and Ida Zetterström first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
