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TJ Zizzo Stays Positive and Active at Chicago Hometown Race
Highlights
- TJ Zizzo qualified tenth in Top Fuel at Route 66 NHRA Nationals.
- Zizzo’s best run was 3.774 seconds at 331.61 mph.
- Lost narrowly to Antron Brown in opening round Sunday race.
- Hosted annual Nitro Cakes breakfast, attracting about 250 guests.
- Recognized as top part-time team competing against full-time rivals.
- Next race: Cornwell NHRA U.S. Nationals, Sept 2-7 in Indianapolis.
Chicago native TJ Zizzo delivered a tidy Top Fuel weekend at the Route 66 NHRA Nationals, qualifying tenth at Route 66 Raceway on Friday night.
The Rust-Oleum-backed Zizzo Racing entry recorded a 3.774-second pass at 331.61 mph, securing a race-day berth and underlining execution despite a part-time schedule.
Zizzo clocks 3.774 seconds at 331.61 mph to qualify tenth in Top Fuel.
Sunday brought a first-round meeting with Antron Brown. Zizzo ceded the launch but stayed in touch, as Brown edged ahead late to end Zizzo’s day.
Zizzo expressed satisfaction with the challenge mounted against a four-time champion. The result matched the car’s pace, and the team left its home event with morale intact.
That outcome reinforces a familiar theme. A part-time group, Zizzo Racing routinely contests full-time operations with deeper resources, yet earns paddock respect for presentation, discipline, and repeatable performance.
Rival crews routinely label Zizzo Racing “the best part-time team out there.”
Zizzo credited his experienced crew for clean turnarounds and clutch management. Cooler Friday conditions opened a narrow performance window, which the team exploited to bank the 3.774 benchmark.
Engagement away from the lane was deliberate. Nitro Cakes drew about 250 guests, alongside hospitality and charity efforts with Kittie’s Warriors and MTT Master Truck & Trailer RVs.
Limited race mileage reduces data density for a part-time outfit. Zizzo offsets that with targeted preparation and conservative envelopes aimed at consistency over outright gamble on race day.
Next outing: U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, September 2–7.
Local narratives extended beyond Zizzo. Fellow Chicago racer Chris King also featured, while standout Sportsman performances included Maddi Gordon during a busy Route 66 schedule.
Focus now shifts to the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals from September 2–7 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, where Zizzo targets progression built on Chicago’s operational sharpness.
Visual Summary
3.774s @ 331.61 mph!
↑
Zizzo vs. Brown
Close Battle!
(Brown edges out Zizzo in a razor-tight first round)
Close Battle!
(Brown edges out Zizzo in a razor-tight first round)
🥞
Nitro Cakes: 250 fans fed!
Nitro Cakes: 250 fans fed!
❤️
Hometown, family, local charity
Hometown, family, local charity
🏆
“Best part-time team” (peer respect)
“Best part-time team” (peer respect)
Next Up: U.S. Nationals – Sept 2–7, Indianapolis
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.
