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Another New Track? No Problem for Zizzo & PEAK Racing

Topics: O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals

Another New Track? No Problem for Zizzo & PEAK Racing

Brandon Mudd
High Side Media
Zizzo Racing
July 31, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Brandon W. Mudd
PR@HighSideMedia.com

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. – Last weekend, TJ Zizzo and the PEAK Motor Oil Top Fuel team made their debut at Sonoma Raceway. So how did the weekend go for the racer who had never competed at that facility? A new personal best in both ET and speed.

So this weekend, it’s a pretty reasonable assumption that Zizzo isn’t overly worried about making his first-ever appearance at Pacific Raceways near Seattle for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals. Thanks to the tight-knit community of racers within the NHRA Mello Yello Series, the second-generation drag racer heads to the Pacific Northwest with confidence in abundance.

“Thankfully, we have a lot of friends in this pit area,” Zizzo said. “So when we go to a race for the first time, we can ask the right questions about what this track is like, what to expect from the race surface itself, and the weather conditions. We take that and we use it with our knowledge (of our car) and then we apply what we know. It really works out well. Going to a race track for the first time isn’t a devastating event for us.

“We may not be able to find the place,” he said with a grin that spoke volumes regarding unplanned road trip adventures of the past, “but we’ll certainly be able to navigate down the track well.”

Pacific Raceways has earned a reputation for being one of the most challenging tracks on the schedule and that’s a fact no amount of notes will compensate for.

“I’ve watched the races in Seattle on television,” he said, “and I realize it’s a tough track to traverse since it’s an older race track. I’ll certainly walk the race track for a long time (when I get there) to get some of the nuances.”

Zizzo and most of the team stayed on the West Coast after the Sonoma race and are making their way up the coast for this weekend’s race. Some of the team’s families are also coming to Seattle, providing a mini vacation in one of the most beautiful locations in the country.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Zizzo said. “When we’re not at the track, there’s a ton of stuff to do and with a week off to get to Seattle, we’re going to make the most of it.”

TJ in the Media: TJ is featured on this week’s Starting Line Edition of PRN’s Nitro Notes. To hear his comments regarding his debut at Pacific Raceways near Seattle, click HERE.

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.

Zizzo Racing and the PEAK Motor Oil Top Fuel dragster next race at Pacific Raceways near Seattle next weekend in the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals. Nitro qualifying kicks off Friday at 3:15 p.m. local time with the second round starting at 6 p.m. Saturday’s nitro qualifying is 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. with eliminations scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday. For tickets to this event, click HERE.

Zizzo Racing Fast Facts:

Zizzo has piloted the PEAK Motor Oil Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA Full Throttle Series since 2003.
Zizzo’s career-best ET is 3.821 (1000 ft.) achieved in 2013 in Sonoma, Calif. His career-best speed is 321.81 mph (1000 ft.) which came at the same event.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals is the eighth race of the year for Zizzo.
This weekend is Zizzo’s first-ever race at Pacific Raceways.

-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.