September 2008 Archives
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. -- T.J. Zizzo will sport a new look during the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals contested this weekend (September 26-28) at the Memphis Motorsports Park. Fans trying to detect the difference will have to look under the helmet. Zizzo, driver of the PEAK / HERCULINER / O'Reilly Auto Parts Top Fuel Dragster grew Elvis style sideburns for the occasion.
"I grew some 'chops'," Zizzo chuckled. "Memphis is about Blues, bar-b-que, Elvis and NHRA Drag Racing. So, I just want to fit in and maybe hang around and race awhile on Sunday."
Memphis is a place that holds fond memories for Zizzo who last raced there during the 1999 season in his Top Alcohol Dragster. "We made our first five second pass there in that car," he said. "Maybe we can have another first this year."
Earlier this month, team Zizzo had a strong qualifying effort end short when they failed to qualify at the Indianapolis event. The team is determined not to let that happen again.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- T.J. Zizzo made the most of his trip to the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park this past weekend. While he drove the PEAK/HERCULINER/O'Reilly Top Fuel Dragster to a respectful 14th qualifying position, he bowed out early in a tough contest with Countdown to the Championship contender Doug Kalitta. Some would be disappointed with the outcome, Zizzo leaves Memphis happy.
"Doug had a better car than us this weekend, Zizzo explained. "That's all it boils down to. We'll have to get him next time."
"We made not have had the best weekend on the track, but we had a great weekend at the track," Zizzo added. "It was one of those races that I had an opportunity to spend some extra time with our sponsors and fans. I'd love to do more of that."
Continue reading Zizzo leaves Memphis happy.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- With day two of qualifying in the books at the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park, Zizzo Racing finds itself in the 14th position, locked into Sunday eliminations with 2008 Countdown to the Championship contender Doug Kalitta.
"We're going to do what we always do - try real hard," T.J. Zizzo, driver of the PEAK/HERCULINER/O'Reilly Top Fuel Dragster said as he licked his fingers between bites of the world famous dry rub ribs at Charlie Vergos' Rendezvous. "Doug is a great competitor. He's a great leaver. I'm just going to try and leave with him. We'll be OK."
When asked about his role as 'spoiler' or 'giant killer' for Sunday eliminations, Zizzo just chuckled. "He [Kalitta] has something like 27 Lear Jets. I've got a 1999 Honda. We just want to come out here and try real hard and give it our best shot and see how far we can go with it."
Continue reading Zizzo sets Sunday rendezvous with Kalitta in Memphis.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- When Zizzo Racing pulled into Memphis Motorsports Park for the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals, the first thing they unloaded from the transporter was determination. With that determination in hand they proceeded to run a 3.978 elapsed time at 300.66 m.p.h. in the Friday afternoon session for a conditional tenth spot on the qualifying sheet after round one. They were also determined to be more aggressive and decided to take a shot at the track for the Friday evening session.
"We strapped a different supercharger on the PEAK/HERCULINER/O'Reilly car," Zizzo said. "That made the car a little more 'zippy' and we got a little more aggressive with the tune-up and just blew the tires off the car."
Continue reading Zizzo takes shot Friday night in Memphis.
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. -- T.J. Zizzo will sport a new look during the O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals contested this weekend (September 26-28) at the Memphis Motorsports Park. Fans trying to detect the difference will have to look under the helmet. Zizzo, driver of the PEAK / HERCULINER / O'Reilly Auto Parts Top Fuel Dragster grew Elvis style sideburns for the occasion."I grew some 'chops'," Zizzo chuckled. "Memphis is about Blues, bar-b-que, Elvis and NHRA Drag Racing. So, I just want to fit in and maybe hang around and race awhile on Sunday."
Memphis is a place that holds fond memories for Zizzo who last raced there during the 1999 season in his Top Alcohol Dragster. "We made our first five second pass there in that car," he said. "Maybe we can have another first this year."
Earlier this month, team Zizzo had a strong qualifying effort end short when they failed to qualify at the Indianapolis event. The team is determined not to let that happen again.
Continue reading Zizzo headed aggressively towards Memphis.
