He is one of the “good guys” in the world of top fuel drag racing and he now stands on the precipice of doing something he has dreamed about his entire life. TJ Zizzo has finally made a final round at an NHRA national event in top fuel and as long as he’s waited, the irony is that he’s going to have to wait some more. Why? Because minutes after he made the final, rain enveloped Lucas Oil Raceway Indianapolis and doused the chances of finishing the race on Sunday afternoon. He and Justin Ashley will run for the money and the Wally at the US Nationals on the first weekend of September. Ugh, right? Not so much for Zizzo who always maintains a positive outlook and attitude. Hell, the guy has waited this long, what’s a few more weeks?!
The neatest thing about the Rust-Oleum sponsored top fuel dragster is the fact that it runs limited events every year, it has a crew that’s wrenched together for (in some cases) decades, and Rahn Tobler provides a little direction on tune up direction with the final calls being made by Mike Kern. It’s a fantastic looking, performing, and thundering race car that we’ve all watched turn on a ton of win lights pound for pound in top fuel. Heck, they went to the semi-finals at the 50th Gatornationals last year and that was just one indication of how good these guys are.
This video is a look inside the Sunday of TJ Zizzo. A Sunday that’s sitting in neutral for few more weeks before he gets his shot at Justin Ashley in the delayed finals.
I seem to recall TJ being a BangShifter. One wonders how well he could be doing now if Peak hadn’t pulled their sponsorship of his team and went with some other guy….
Not great. Trust me when I say TJ did NOT get the same deal as the Forces. Not even close. Rust-Oleum may pay for fewer races, but those races are funded to provide a competitive car. For about the same amount that R-O is giving TJ for 3-4 races, PEAK wanted 12-13.
You mean the other guy sitting quietly on the sidelines getting no publicity for any of his myriad number of sponsors? That guy? Good question.
Good Luck TJ.
Yeah, that guy. The guy who just announced his team is parked for the year.