Words by Mike Perry | IHRA Communications
Photos by Bryan Epps
8/8/06
The 25th Annual Torco Racing Fuels Northern Nationals was a weekend of firsts for Illinois-based racer T.J. Zizzo. He claimed his first career pole position when final qualifying was said and done and, back where he made his first IHRA appearance last season, registered the low ET of the meet and captured his first career national event victory at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI.
TOP FUEL
Zizzo was the best Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Top Fuel car all weekend. After his Friday qualifying hit stood up, he knocked off J.R. Todd, recent two-time NHRA national event winner, in the first round of eliminations. He then handled Bruce Litton in the semifinals and Doug Foley in the finals to take home his first Ironman.
 With a little help from his friends, T.J. Zizzo got his first win. Bobby Lagana, Jr. loaned him a front tire. |
“This is an all-volunteer team, and I mean all volunteer,” Zizzo said. “Not even Dave Settles, the crew chief, gets paid a dime on this deal. US 131 is one of my favorite race tracks and I’ve won here before in an alcohol dragster, so this win really means a lot to us.”
Zizzo won the Ironman when he defeated Foley in the final, but it was his first-round match-up with J.R. Todd (shown below) that Zizzo was most keyed-up for.
“To race J.R. Todd in the first round. . .I mean, he has won two of the last three NHRA national events,” Zizzo said. “We had to show J.R. Todd what IHRA racing is all about. He has some experience over here, I understand that. But that team doesn’t. IHRA right now is where it’s at. I never wanted to beat anybody so badly in my life. This IHRA circuit, and all 
the drivers here, teach me how to drive. Look at reaction times across the board, IHRA guys usually have better reaction times than NHRA guys. We’re all trying real hard over here.”
IHRA president Aaron Polburn was right on target when he made this prediction about T.J. Zizzo’s chances this year. Click image to enlarge.