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Zizzo Puts PEAK Motor Oil Dragster Sixth in Houston


Drag Racing
Topics:  TJ Zizzo, O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals

TJ Zizzo
TJ Zizzo is the driver of the PEAK/Herculiner NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel dragster and his family-owned team is based in Lincolnshire, Ill. TJ has raced his entire life and runs Zizzo Enterprises, Inc., when he's not racing. He and his wife, Jen, have two children -- Maddie and Nick -- and spends what little free time he has golfing and riding motorcycles. Follow TJ on Twitter at Twitter.com/TJZizzo and on Facebook at Facebook.com/TJZizzo.

Team:
Owner: Tony Zizzo
Crew Chief: Mike Kern
Clutch Specialist: Tony Smith
Utilities/Tires: Mike Adams
Public Relations: Cathie Gallo
Cylinder Heads: Rick Dale
Car Chief: Rick Messmore
Bottom End/Motor Assembly: Ryan Ramos
Clutch/Car Assembly: Chris Schneider
Cylinder Head (right): Joe Cluts
Utility: Doug Wikell
Public/Media Relations: Brandon W. Mudd

Zizzo Puts PEAK Motor Oil Dragster Sixth in Houston

Brandon W. Mudd
Zizzo Racing
April 29, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Brandon W. Mudd
BWMudd@ZizzoRacing.com
636-219-9676


BAYTOWN, Texas – After sitting at home since the Winternationals in February, TJ Zizzo and his PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner NHRA Full Throttle Series team were ready to race. After meet and greets at the Houston Bass Pro Shop, two O’Reilly Auto Parts stores here in Baytown, and a hugely successful NHRA Night at Minute Maid Park where the hometown Astros suffered an 11-5 loss to ten-time World Series champs the St. Louis Cardinals, Zizzo fired his rail down the track during Q1 at Royal Purple Raceway for the 24th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals.

And spun the tires at the 60-foot mark.

But crew chief Mark Kern and the rest of the team were hardly concerned. ““Went out this afternoon for our first qualifying pass and had some new parts on the car,” he said while the car was being torn down. “Nothing spectacular, just some newer stuff. It was a little bit tipped over, went out to the 60 feet and smoked the tires. We came back and pretty much left everything alone in the engine department and just calmed down our clutch and our timing to match what the track was going to give us.”

The track gave Zizzo Racing plenty in the second round as Illinois native Zizzo laid down a pass of 3.885 at 314.90 mph, temporarily putting the team at the top of the leaderboard. At the end of the round, seven-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher would take over the low qualifier spot with a scorching ET of 3.817 at 323.81 mph. Zizzo was more than happy with a provisional sixth-place position and dedicated it to a new sponsor.

“We brought in a new marketing partner, Kit DeAndre, a golf pro at Liberty Lake Golf Course in Spokane, Wash. I just want to thank him. We met him in Pomona about six months ago, he came aboard, a super dude and that 3.88 run we just ran was for you, Kit! Running that 3.88 was spectacular. We’re the number six qualifier and we’re out there in the ranks with the Schumachers, the Dixons, the Worshams of the world. It feels really good.”

The final two rounds of qualifying for the Nitro classes are scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. local time Saturday. Finals kick off Sunday at 11 a.m. immediately following pre-race ceremonies. Spectator gates open at 7:30 a.m. For information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit RoyalPurpleRaceway.com or call 281-383-7223.

Fans of TJ Zizzo and Zizzo Racing can find updates and photos of the PEAK/Herculiner Top Fuel team by checking out ZizzoRacing.com, Twitter.com/ZizzoRacing, and Facebook.com/ZizzoRacing. Videos of TJ and Zizzo Racing can be found at YouTube.com/TJZizzo.

-ZR-


About Zizzo Racing:
Zizzo Racing has been involved in drag racing at the top levels for more than 30 years. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill. and owned by Tony Zizzo, the team started racing in 1980 in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, moving to nitro with TJ in 2004 after earning his class license. In 2007, TJ Zizzo finished second in the final IHRA standings and now competes on a part-time basis in the NHRA Full Throttle Series.

About PEAK/Old World Industries:
PEAK® Performance Products are marketed and distributed by Old World Industries, which is among the largest privately held companies competing in the automotive aftermarket. The Northbrook, Illinois based company enjoys a presence in the automotive product markets, energy exploration, and chemical manufacturing in more than 50 countries worldwide. Old World's Product offering includes PEAK® Antifreeze; PEAK® Windshield Wash and Wiper Blades; PEAK® Performance Motor Oil; a full line of PEAK® Electronics; HERCULINER® Truck Bed Liner Kits; and SIERRA®, the safer antifreeze. For more information, please visit www.peakauto.com.




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