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Zizzo Optimistic Despite Rough Day at Home Track

Topics: O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals

Zizzo Optimistic Despite Rough Day at Home Track

Brandon Mudd
High Side Media
Zizzo Racing
July 8, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Zizzo Racing
Brandon W. Mudd
BWMudd@ZizzoRacing.com
636-219-9676

Zizzo Optimistic Despite Rough Day at Home Track

JOLIET, Ill. – For TJ Zizzo and the PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel team, racing at Route 66 Raceway means it’s a home game for most of them. Zizzo and crew have been treated like kings all week prior to the 14^th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals here. Unfortunately, reality crashed the party Friday during qualifying. In round one, Zizzo smoked the tires, crossing the finish line with an ET of 5.841 seconds at 113.09 mph. And due to a fuel leak, there was no Q2 for Zizzo Racing.

“We have had a wonderful, wonderful week off-track promoting O’Reilly Auto Parts, promoting PEAK Motor Oil,” Zizzo said. “We got to throw the first pitch at the White Sox game (see full video of TJ’s pitch HERE). That was a lot of fun. I also had the opportunity to be on a podium with John Force and ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits and have a great conversation with those guys in front of around 500 people.”

What wasn’t wonderful, however, was pushing the dragster off the starting line in front of the hometown crowd under the lights. But ever the eternal optimist, Zizzo knows there are two more chances on Saturday to get into the show and that his team has the ability to get the car ready.

“We’re professional and we continue to be professional, even in the most unusual circumstances,” he said. “It hasn’t been since 2005 that we’ve had to shut off at the starting line. It’s pretty amazing that it’s been that long ago. When that happens, we’re professional. We shut the car off and no one loses their cool. We’ll get it fixed for tomorrow and we’ll go out there and we’re going for the dramatic outcome.”

Don Schumacher Racing’s Spencer Massey took the provisional P1 Friday with an ET of 3.819 seconds at 319.29 mph. Luigi Novelli, who was in the opposite lane versus Zizzo when the PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner rail ran into problems, sits in the 12^th position after laying down his first-ever 300 mph pass (307.44 mph).

Fans of TJ Zizzo and Zizzo Racing can find updates and photos of the PEAK/Herculiner Top Fuel team by checking out ZizzoRacing.com, Twitter.com/ZizzoRacing, and Facebook.com/ZizzoRacing. Videos of TJ and Zizzo Racing can be found at YouTube.com/TJZizzo.

Zizzo will race his PEAK/Herculiner rail in the 14^th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet. Saturday’s two rounds of nitro qualifying set to run at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Eliminations start at 11 a.m. Sunday. For ticket information, call Route 66 Raceway at 888-629-RACE or visit them on the Web at Route66Raceway.com.

-ZR-

About Zizzo Racing:
Zizzo Racing has been involved in drag racing at the top levels for more than 30 years. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill. and owned by Tony Zizzo, the team started racing in 1980 in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, moving to nitro with TJ in 2004 after earning his class license. In 2007, TJ Zizzo finished second in the final IHRA standings and now competes on a part-time basis in the NHRA Full Throttle Series.

About PEAK/Old World Industries:
PEAK® Performance Products are marketed and distributed by Old World Industries, which is among the largest privately held companies competing in the automotive aftermarket. The Northbrook, Illinois based company enjoys a presence in the automotive product markets, energy exploration, and chemical manufacturing in more than 50 countries worldwide. Old World's Product offering includes PEAK® Antifreeze; PEAK® Windshield Wash and Wiper Blades; PEAK® Performance Motor Oil; a full line of PEAK® Electronics; HERCULINER® Truck Bed Liner Kits; and SIERRA®, the safer antifreeze. For more information, please visit www.peakauto.com.

TJ Zizzo
TJ Zizzo is the driver of the PEAK/Herculiner NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel dragster and his family-owned team is based in Lincolnshire, Ill. TJ has raced his entire life and runs Zizzo Enterprises, Inc., when he's not racing. He and his wife, Jen, have two children -- Maddie and Nick -- and spends what little free time he has golfing and riding motorcycles. Follow TJ on Twitter at Twitter.com/TJZizzo and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TJZizzo.
Team:
Owner: Tony Zizzo
Crew Chief: Mike Kern
Clutch Specialist: Tony Smith
Utilities/Tires: Mike Adams
Event Coordinator: Cathie Gallo
Cylinder Heads: Rick Dale
Car Chief: Rick Messmore
Bottom End/Motor Assembly: Ryan Ramos
Clutch/Car Assembly: Chris Schneider
Cylinder Head (right): Joe Cluts
Utility: Doug Wikell
Public/Media Relations: Brandon W. Mudd

Our mailing address is:
Zizzo Racing, Inc.
23275 North Olsen Court
Prairie View, IL 60069
Copyright (C) 2011 Zizzo Racing, Inc.

The Zizzo Racing logo and TJ Zizzo are trademarks of Zizzo Racing, Inc.