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Runner up finish and career best performance highlights PEAK weekend for Zizzo
CAYUGA, Ont. - TJ Zizzo, pilot of the PEAK Antifreeze / O'Reilly Auto Parts Top Fuel dragster and IHRA points leader, made his fourth final round appearance of the year at the Toronto Motorsports Park. It also highlighted the IHRA debut of Zizzo Racing's partnership with PEAK Antifreeze, O'Reilly Auto Parts.
The IHRA Canadian Nationals would also provide the Illinois based team a chance to reset their personal and track elapsed time records on Saturday night when they blistered the Canadian quarter mile (4.576 ET /321.27 mph). That run would not only would assure Zizzo a spot atop the Top Fuel field, but also earn him an additional five points with the Last Man Standing award. Their weekend efforts would expand their points lead over veteran Bruce Litton by another 26 points, bringing their total margin to 54 points with just three races remaining.
"It was a good weekend," Zizzo said. "The rain-delayed elimination rounds made things interesting. When Monday rolled around and every team was missing some guys that had to go back to work, it heightened the intensity a little bit. Our team did a great job getting this car prepped and into the final round."
The IHRA Canadian Nationals would also provide the Illinois based team a chance to reset their personal and track elapsed time records on Saturday night when they blistered the Canadian quarter mile (4.576 ET /321.27 mph). That run would not only would assure Zizzo a spot atop the Top Fuel field, but also earn him an additional five points with the Last Man Standing award. Their weekend efforts would expand their points lead over veteran Bruce Litton by another 26 points, bringing their total margin to 54 points with just three races remaining.
"It was a good weekend," Zizzo said. "The rain-delayed elimination rounds made things interesting. When Monday rolled around and every team was missing some guys that had to go back to work, it heightened the intensity a little bit. Our team did a great job getting this car prepped and into the final round."
The semi-final and final rounds of Top Fuel were contested on an
eighth-mile format due to weather conditions and track concerns. Heavy
rain moisture was seeping through the track near the guard walls,
forcing IHRA officials to shorten the race.
Zizzo would defeat Todd Paton and Scotty Cannon enroute to the final round match up with Terry McMillen. In the finals Zizzo would smoke the tires about 100 feet out, pedal the car and still make a competitive run in a losing effort (3.313 ET / 246.03 mph).
The semi final run against Cannon nearly matched TJ's Saturday night performance when the car ran 3.108 ET at 275.22 mph in the eighth mile contest. Saturday night's half track incrementals were just as impressive, 3.106 ET at 271.57 mph. "We're getting more and more consistent with this car," Zizzo added. "While we've got a win this year, we just need to figure out how to turn some of these runner-ups into wins."
Tony Zizzo, team owner, was happy with the team's performance. "We had a few unbelievable runs," he said. "We'll dedicate Saturday's track record run to Tom Baum (long-time friend and competitor).
The next stop for the PEAK Antifreeze / O'Reilly Top Fuel team is the rain delayed Suzuki Motor City Nationals at Milan, Michigan, September 21-23.
Zizzo would defeat Todd Paton and Scotty Cannon enroute to the final round match up with Terry McMillen. In the finals Zizzo would smoke the tires about 100 feet out, pedal the car and still make a competitive run in a losing effort (3.313 ET / 246.03 mph).
The semi final run against Cannon nearly matched TJ's Saturday night performance when the car ran 3.108 ET at 275.22 mph in the eighth mile contest. Saturday night's half track incrementals were just as impressive, 3.106 ET at 271.57 mph. "We're getting more and more consistent with this car," Zizzo added. "While we've got a win this year, we just need to figure out how to turn some of these runner-ups into wins."
Tony Zizzo, team owner, was happy with the team's performance. "We had a few unbelievable runs," he said. "We'll dedicate Saturday's track record run to Tom Baum (long-time friend and competitor).
The next stop for the PEAK Antifreeze / O'Reilly Top Fuel team is the rain delayed Suzuki Motor City Nationals at Milan, Michigan, September 21-23.
