August 2007 Archives
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The 53rd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals is under way and TJ Zizzo and his Peak Antifreeze / O'Reilly Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster made their first NHRA appearance of the 2007 season. On the first of five qualifying attempts, the Illinois based team didn't make a full pass, overpowering the track early in the run.
"It's the first time we've run 85% (Nitro methane percentage) in two years," Zizzo said while loading up the dragster for the evening. "We rolled the dice and made an educated guess. It wasn't educated enough. That's one down and four to go (qualifying attempts). We'll have it figure out tomorrow."
"It's the first time we've run 85% (Nitro methane percentage) in two years," Zizzo said while loading up the dragster for the evening. "We rolled the dice and made an educated guess. It wasn't educated enough. That's one down and four to go (qualifying attempts). We'll have it figure out tomorrow."
Continue reading One down and four to go for Zizzo at U.S. Nationals.
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - TJ Zizzo and the PEAK Antifreeze Top Fuel Dragster will be doing a little work this Labor Day weekend and TJ is not hearing any complaints from his crew. In fact they are all looking forward to it.
Labor Day will mark the return of Zizzo Racing to the NHRA POWERade schedule for the Aug. 29-Sept. 3 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park. The Indianapolis event is considered to be one of the most prestigious drag races in the world and Zizzo and his crew are looking forward to being a part of the action.
"We're going there to have some fun," said Zizzo who currently leads the points standings in the Knoll-Gas Motorsports Nitro Jam Drag Series. "There's a lot of pressure on those teams in the Countdown to the Championship. We just want to come over here and mix it up a little. The only pressure we have is to help PEAK Antifreeze celebrate their 60th anniversary."
Labor Day will mark the return of Zizzo Racing to the NHRA POWERade schedule for the Aug. 29-Sept. 3 Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at O'Reilly Raceway Park. The Indianapolis event is considered to be one of the most prestigious drag races in the world and Zizzo and his crew are looking forward to being a part of the action.
"We're going there to have some fun," said Zizzo who currently leads the points standings in the Knoll-Gas Motorsports Nitro Jam Drag Series. "There's a lot of pressure on those teams in the Countdown to the Championship. We just want to come over here and mix it up a little. The only pressure we have is to help PEAK Antifreeze celebrate their 60th anniversary."
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - In the midst of a great IHRA Top Fuel points battle that is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent history, T.J. Zizzo, driver of the Race News Magazine Top Fuel Dragster doesn't really want to talk about points or wins or even races. Zizzo wants to talk about the team. It's not that racing isn't important, after all, it is what brought this team together.
As Zizzo Racing competes for its first championship, T.J. reflects on the team that makes it happen. "This entire team is made up of men and women with full-time jobs," T.J. said. "Normally they're all here on Tuesday and Saturday night getting this car ready for a race. In August we had three races in row, they were all here every day of the week, yes, including Sunday. It's not like these guys live in the neighborhood, some have to fight 30 to 40 miles of Chicago traffic just to get here."
"It would be hard to find 14 people to do what these guys do for money, much less just for the love of drag racing," Zizzo added. "This team is something special. I may never get to experience this again in my career, a chance to be a part of something special."
As Zizzo Racing competes for its first championship, T.J. reflects on the team that makes it happen. "This entire team is made up of men and women with full-time jobs," T.J. said. "Normally they're all here on Tuesday and Saturday night getting this car ready for a race. In August we had three races in row, they were all here every day of the week, yes, including Sunday. It's not like these guys live in the neighborhood, some have to fight 30 to 40 miles of Chicago traffic just to get here."
"It would be hard to find 14 people to do what these guys do for money, much less just for the love of drag racing," Zizzo added. "This team is something special. I may never get to experience this again in my career, a chance to be a part of something special."
Continue reading Nothing but love drives Zizzo Racing.
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - Coined by the ancient Romans, the term "Dog Days" was named after Sirius (the "Dog Star"), the brightest star in the heavens. The term conjures up the hottest, most sultry days of summer. For Zizzo Racing, the dog days of summer can only be cured with one thing; water.
It started in Martin, Michigan in a region that needed rain water. Water not only played a roll in the delay of the race but also TJ Zizzo's last qualifying attempt. The earth shaking top fuel dragster had rattled a drain plug loose from a cooler in the starters box, sending a stream of water into TJ's lane. The water would cause the team to shut off the Race News Magazine dragster, delaying their final qualifying run. "That made for an interesting evening," Zizzo said. "My team had to really work hard to service our car an additional time and they did a great job." But the extra effort wouldn't help Zizzo's uneventful final qualifying attempt. "Unfourtenly we had to run a little bit later in the evening. It could have affected the outcome, you never know. That's just how it goes sometimes."
Zizzo would end the Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals earlier than he had hoped for with a first round loss to J.R. Todd. Todd would go on to a runner-up finish to Bruce Litton's victory. Litton would take a over the top spot in points from Zizzo for the second time this season. Litton will have a 21 point advantage going into the next race.
It started in Martin, Michigan in a region that needed rain water. Water not only played a roll in the delay of the race but also TJ Zizzo's last qualifying attempt. The earth shaking top fuel dragster had rattled a drain plug loose from a cooler in the starters box, sending a stream of water into TJ's lane. The water would cause the team to shut off the Race News Magazine dragster, delaying their final qualifying run. "That made for an interesting evening," Zizzo said. "My team had to really work hard to service our car an additional time and they did a great job." But the extra effort wouldn't help Zizzo's uneventful final qualifying attempt. "Unfourtenly we had to run a little bit later in the evening. It could have affected the outcome, you never know. That's just how it goes sometimes."
Zizzo would end the Torco Race Fuels Northern Nationals earlier than he had hoped for with a first round loss to J.R. Todd. Todd would go on to a runner-up finish to Bruce Litton's victory. Litton would take a over the top spot in points from Zizzo for the second time this season. Litton will have a 21 point advantage going into the next race.
Continue reading Dog Days of Summer perfect fit for Zizzo Racing.
