LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.- If you haven't tuned in to one of the Access Hollywood type celebrity TV shows lately, now might be a good time to start. We're expecting a T.J. Zizzo sighting on the red carpet sometime soon.

First it was back stage at the O'Reilly Manager Conference with Danica Patrick and Tony Stewart, now these photos surface with Zizzo, driver of the PEAK, HERCULINER / O'Reilly Top Fuel Dragster, sharing the stage with 'da Bears' Hall of Fame player and coach Mike Ditka and Indiana All-American and 1965 first round draft pick of the Detroit Lions, Tom Nowatzke.

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - August 2009 marked a first for Zizzo Racing and if you ask Tony Zizzo, it won't be the last. Tony Zizzo, team owner of the PEAK, HERCULINER / O'Reilly Top Fuel Dragster that competes in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, made his rookie trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats last summer more than memorable.

While Tony is no stranger to speed of the quarter-mile variety, he did find the 159 square mile salt flats of northwestern Utah a different challenge. "It's a different world out there," Zizzo said. "Bonneville is the place for old drag racers that lose their reaction time," he joked.

A few of the differences in racing for Land Speed Records and Drag Racing became evident to Zizzo shortly after his first licensing pass on the three short track. "The officials told me not to go over 125 mph even though I have drag racing experience at least twice that fast," Zizzo explained. "It's really hard to tell how fast you're going out there. There's no grandstands or finish line to give you a sense of speed. I felt like I was on a Sunday drive." 

Zizzo's 217 mph rookie pass landed him in hot water with track officials. "They wouldn't even give me my time slip," Zizzo said. "I really didn't feel like I was going that fast." The compromise that kept Zizzo at 2009 Speed Week was to 'leave the track' and return the next day as if had never been there and start all over again. Just a rookie mistake. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  - Zizzo Racing's Tony and T.J. Zizzo put the PEAK, HERCULINER / O'Reilly Top Fuel Dragster on display yesterday during the 2010 O'Reilly's National Managers Conference at The Gaylord Opryland Resort And Convention Center. The opportunity gave Zizzo a chance to meet O'Reilly team members from around the country. It also gave T.J. a chance to trade racing stories back stage with IRL driver Danica Patrick and NASCAR's Tony Stewart.

"Having a chance to meet Danica and Tony for a few moments back stage was fun," T.J. explained. "There are a lot of differences in how we each get a race car down the track, but in the end, we all just want to compete and drive fast."

Zizzo would face Cory McClenathan in round one of eliminations. Both teams experienced tire shake, McClenathan with the lessor of the two got the win and moved on to round two.

"It was a tricky situation," Zizzo said. "The cooler overcast conditions on Monday were like nothing any of us had seen all weekend. I think the track was a lot tighter than anyone thought it would be."

The O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals marked the fifth and final race of 2009 for Zizzo Racing.

"We had a great time meeting O'Reilly team members during the PEAK promotions," Zizzo said. "It's always fun to be a part of and we hope we get a chance race and represent them in the future."