Zizzo To Face Lucas in E1 Sunday in Sonoma From the Ninth Spot

Zizzo To Face Lucas in E1 Sunday in Sonoma From the Ninth Spot

Topics: NHRA Sonoma Nationals

Zizzo To Face Lucas in E1 Sunday in Sonoma From the Ninth Spot

Brandon Mudd
High Side Media
Zizzo Racing
July 27, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Brandon W. Mudd
PR@HighSideMedia.com

SONOMA, Calif. – After the disappointment of missing the show at their home track in Joliet, Ill., the PEAK Motor Oil Top Fuel team, piloted by Chicagoland native TJ Zizzo, were all smiles Saturday at Sonoma Raceway. The team’s career-best run of 3.821 seconds at 319.37 mph run Friday under the lights put them solidly in Sunday’s field of 16 at ninth, where they face eighth-place qualifier Morgan Lucas.

While buffoonery is never a problem in the Zizzo Racing pits, the team made a lot of changes after Joliet, mostly in the clutch set up. Those changes paid off in a big way Friday night with Zizzo’s best-ever run and continued to showcase their talent with a 3.900-second ET in the final round of qualifying Saturday.

“We are amongst a crowd of good cars,” Zizzo said in the PEAK Motor Oil pit after the final round of NHRA Mello Yello Series qualifying. “Going into tomorrow, I’m just going to go up there and do my job and the chips are going to fall where they fall.

“I say that because I’ve seen in the past I’ve seen high-caliber cars make mistakes and I’ve seen teams who shouldn’t be in the second round make it to the second round. We deserve to go to the second round, there’s no doubt in my mind about that.”

While also an optimist, Zizzo is also a realist and knows making it to the NHRA Sonoma Nationals quarterfinals here Sunday is not a sure thing by any stretch. Lucas is a multi-time Nationals winner driving for a team with a proven track record. But Zizzo Racing, one of the hardest-working teams in the NHRA pits, is hungry for round wins.

“At the same time, it’s going to be a good, close race,” Zizzo said. “(Morgan Lucas & I) are eighth and ninth, we’ve both been running fairly close to one another all weekend and we’re going to see how it all ends up tomorrow. My goal certainly is to go out there and beat Morgan Lucas and at the same time, his goal is to beat us.

“It’ll be a battle between two great teams who love the sport.”

Australian racer David Grubnic held on to the top spot Saturday and goes into Sunday’s elimination as the top dog with his ET of 3.765 seconds, a Sonoma Raceway track record. Missing the field were Troy Buff and Steve Chrisman.

Zizzo Racing and the PEAK Motor Oil Top Fuel dragster are racing in the NHRA Sonoma Nationals this weekend at Sonoma Raceway. Eliminations are scheduled to start Sunday at 11 a.m.

Fans of TJ Zizzo and Zizzo Racing can find updates and photos of the PEAK/Herculiner Top Fuel team by checking out ZizzoRacing.com, Instagram.com/ZizzoPEAK, Twitter.com/TJZizzo, and Facebook.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.