Smooth Run For Zizzo Racing Back & Forth Weather Conditions

Smooth Run For Zizzo Racing Back & Forth Weather Conditions

Topics: Auto Club NHRA World Finals

Smooth Run For Zizzo Racing Back & Forth Weather Conditions

Brandon Mudd
High Side Media
Zizzo Racing
November 11, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

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

Smooth Run For Zizzo Racing Back & Forth Weather Conditions

POMONA, Calif. – In drag racing, cool is, well, cool. Cool temps make for better racing conditions, faster speeds, and quicker times. On Thursday at the Auto Club NHRA World Finals at Auto Club Raceway, the weather conditions were cool and overcast. On Friday, it was the same.

Until it came time for TJ Zizzo to make his Q2 run in the PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner dragster.

“The weather of course played into it,” Zizzo said of his 3.935 second run that placed him 15^th in the qualifying bracket. “You have a little bit of cloud cover all day long, actually a lot of cloud cover, and then before we go (to the starting line), the sun comes out.

“The weather gods don’t give (crew chief) Mike Kern too many breaks because all year long, every single race we go to, there’s been completely different levels of atmospheric condition. But Mike continues to do a good job and the team continues to do a good job assembling our PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner car and we’re doing well.”

The smooth A-to-B run for Zizzo was a marked improvement over Thursday’s effort, which saw the car strike the tires almost immediately. Little changes can make big improvements and that is what Zizzo Racing is working towards this weekend in the final event of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series season.

“We ran a 3.93 today,” the Chicago native said. “Sure, it was a decent run, especially after smoking the tires yesterday. It wasn’t exactly what we were looking for, but we shaved a couple thousandths (of a second) here, a couple thousandths there. I left just a touch early and I staged just a touch too deep, maybe by a couple inches or so. All those things add up. We’ll get it absolutely correct tomorrow.”

The weather forecast for Saturday here is questionable, but if both rounds of qualifying are rained out, Zizzo will be in the show for Sunday’s eliminations. Former seven-time class champ Tony Schumacher remains atop the leaderboard with a 3.827 ET at 321.19 mph. Antron Brown, one of the three Top Fuel drivers vying for the title (along with Del Worsham and Spencer Massey) continues to struggle, currently in 22^nd place among the 26-car field.

Zizzo Racing is racing in the Auto Club NHRA World Finals this weekend at Auto Club Raceway. The final two rounds of qualifying are scheduled for Saturday at 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday’s pre-race ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m. with first round of eliminations running at 11. For tickets, click HERE.

TJ in the Media: Zizzo appeared on The Auto Show with Greg Damon on KMOX in St. Louis last weekend to discuss drag racing, among some other interesting topics. For the full interview, click HERE.

Get Zizzo Stuff: Want some great race-used items from an NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel team? Have a friend or relative who’s impossible to shop for? Look no more! Head over to the Zizzo Racing page on eBay by clicking HERE!

Fans of TJ Zizzo and Zizzo Racing can find updates and photos of the PEAK Motor Oil/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.

-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: Matt Blager
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.