The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series visits Route 66 Nationals near Chicago, May 15-17, in NHRA’s 75th season. Top Fuel veteran TJ Zizzo targets a statement weekend at home.

Zizzo Racing runs part-time yet remains competitive, leveraging Rust-Oleum backing and meticulous preparation to maximize limited track time against full-season operations.

Crew chief Mike Kern leads with guidance from Hall of Famer Rahn Tobler, focusing on the narrow setup window demanded by modern nitro regulations and evolving track preparation.

The team logs more than 2,000 off-season hours, refreshing components and refining procedures to improve repeatability across Friday and Saturday qualifying shifts.

Recent form includes multiple No. 1 starts, with a 2024 top spot marking Zizzo’s best headline since 2018, when early elimination underlined execution risk from pole.

Chicago offers two Friday sessions and two on Saturday, setting the 16-car ladder for Sunday eliminations, where consistency and turnaround discipline often dictate advancement.

Zizzo’s 2020 rain-delayed campaign culminated at the U.S. Nationals with a runner-up finish, reinforcing the program’s ceiling when execution and conditions align.

Upgrades facilitated by the late Don Schumacher improved hardware depth, allowing bolder calibration choices without compromising reliability through quick turnarounds.

Last year’s Chicago exit followed a 13th-place qualifying draw against Antron Brown, when a high idle and extra throttle pressure overpowered the surface.

The debrief targeted pedal technique and base-idle management, aiming to widen the car’s operating window without sacrificing early incrementals.

Zizzo frames calculated risk as essential in Top Fuel, with peak performance sitting millimeters from tire shake or smoke. Smart aggression remains the objective.

Away from the track, Saturday’s free pancake social returns, serving Nitro Cakes to fans and crews before qualifying, reinforcing hometown connection and sponsor engagement.

Sunday’s eliminations begin at 10:30 a.m., with evening coverage on FS1, offering Zizzo a prominent stage to convert preparation into momentum at Route 66 Raceway.

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Nicholas Rivera

Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.