Story By: ELON WERNER / ZIZZO RACING – CHICAGO, IL – For over two decades, Zizzo Racing have been competing at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, recognized as the biggest race in drag racing history.
This year, Zizzo is bringing the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster to Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and looking to make their own history. Beginning August 30 through September 2, the best Top Fuel NHRA drag racing teams from across the country will be vying for the iconic Wally Trophy at the 70th running of the race called “The Big Go.” Nearly two dozen teams will have five qualifying runs to post one of the 16 quickest elapsed times to qualify for race day and Zizzo knows the Rust-Oleum dragster team will need to be at the top of their game.
“This is the biggest race of the year on the biggest stage,” said Zizzo. “The U.S. Nationals is rich with history and this year there will be so many legends in attendance and special events surrounding the race. I am proud to be a small part of the race and look forward to making our mark with the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster for sure.”
The second generation drag racer won his first competitive round of Top Fuel at the 2004 U.S. Nationals defeating Doug Herbert. Since that round win, Zizzo has raced across the country representing Zizzo Racing, recording more than two dozen round wins and racing to the final round of the 2020 Lucas Oil Summernationals. Earlier this season Zizzo scored his first No. 1 qualifier at his hometown race, the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 Nationals outside of Chicago.
“We have had a great season so far and we are looking to build on that success at the Toyota U.S. Nationals,” said Zizzo. “We earned our first No. 1 qualifier in Chicago and we are looking to maintain that level of success. We have been building more engines to be ready for Indy and I feel like we have an amazing chance to have some success. My Rust-Oleum crew has been working their tails off to give us the best chance to win.”
The competition has also continued to improve as Zizzo Racing has been building their program. For a part-time team being able to compete on a national stage at the highest level, it requires cooperation and support from organizations like Don Schumacher Racing, recognized as one of the most successful drag racing teams in history.
“Don Schumacher was a legend and the support I personally received from him as well as the support his organization provided Zizzo Racing is immeasurable,” said Zizzo. “We lost Don earlier this year but there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him and appreciate everything he did to help me on and off the track. He won the 1970 U.S. Nationals Funny Car title, and it was his first NHRA national event win. I would love to honor his legacy by winning my first race this year at the 70th U.S. Nationals.”
To secure his first Top Fuel national event win, Zizzo will face over 20 Top Fuel competitors. The field will include international racers from Canada (Dan Mercier), Sweden (Ida Zetterström) and the Netherlands (Lex Joon) as well as six former Top Fuel world champions. Two Top Fuel rookies will also be in competition, Jasmine Salinas and NASCAR and Indy Car Hall of Famer turned Top Fuel driver Tony Stewart.
“The level of competition in Top Fuel this season is off the charts and then you look at the field for the U.S. Nationals and it is a ‘Who’s Who’ of competitors,” said Zizzo. “I truly believe there are teams that can win the race that will not make the field. We will have to be at the top of our game starting on Friday. Our focus will be on doing everything we can to make sure this Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster is perfectly prepared every time it goes down the track. I have been working on my reaction times and the team has been doing their job. It will be an exciting and exhausting weekend. We will be spending a lot of time with our fans and our corporate partners every day.”
For the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team which also receives marketing support from Dundee Heating and AC, Indak, Blager Concrete, Master Truck and Trailer and recently announced an extension with Button Transportation, they will get their first chance to impress the crowd Friday, August 30 when Top Fuel has one night-time qualifying session. The entire field will get two more runs on Saturday and two more on Sunday to try and race into the top 16. Monday, September 2, final eliminations will begin at 10:00 a.m. ET with the race being broadcast nationally on FOX.