<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/kern.jpg" alt="kern" align="right"borders="0"/>
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (May 28, 2008) - Long-time team member Mike Kern will replace Dave Settles as crew chief at Zizzo Racing and will make the tuning calls on the teams PEAK/HERCULINER Top Fuel Dragster. Kern began his tuning duties last week at the Motor City Nationals in Milan, Michigan. Tony Zizzo, team owner, made the announcement to the team earlier this year and confirmed it on arrival for the IHRA event.
"Mike Kern has been our Car Chief for the last two season," Tony said. "He'll be the acting crew chief for us in 2008. Mike has done a great job working with us since he came to Zizzo Racing. He learned a lot working with past crew chiefs Dave Settles - and John Harris before that. Mike studies everything, he's a very technical guy. He pays attention to detail and learns a lot. Our entire team works very closely to get this car down the track. Mike will do a great job. He is the guy for our future at Zizzo Racing."
The 39-year-old Kern will lead the team, but he doesn't expect to make many changes. "We're just going to keep doing what we do and hopefully go out there and win some races," Kern said. "We did well last season, so there's not a lot to change. We spent the winter fine tuning the things that affected our consistency last year, little things here and there that should help a bunch on race day. Most teams don't realize how well we run with the parts we have. We don't have the latest and greatest cylinder heads, blowers, fuel system and clutches. I feel that if everyone else had to back up and run what we have on our car right now, we'd be the top of the heap. I think that says a lot about what we can do." Kern brings 30 years of racing experience to the team.
As the son of Mike Faser, Kern grew up on the drag strip. Faser drove the legendary Nitro Funny Car "Chicago Fire". The car was later converted into an AA/Fuel Altered that still runs today. "I can't say I learned everything from any one particular person," Kern says. "It's more like a little from a lot of different people, both directly and indirectly. Most of them don't even know they've taught me something. Aside from Dave Settles and John Harris, we've had Rahn Tobler, Tim Wilkerson, Lance Larsen and many others help us out with stuff."
Kern looks forward to working with his dedicated team. "We have a bunch of great guys including Tony Smith, our clutch chief, as I refer to him, because he's way more than just a clutch specialist. He handles the entire clutch program. No one can do it all and when you have guy that understands what's going on back there, it makes the decisions a whole lot easier."
To learn more about Zizzo Racing visit: Zizzo Racing
Mike Kern earns top spot at Zizzo Racing
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (May 28, 2008) - Long-time team member Mike Kern will replace Dave Settles as crew chief at Zizzo Racing and will make the tuning calls on the teams PEAK/HERCULINER Top Fuel Dragster. Kern began his tuning duties last week at the Motor City Nationals in Milan, Michigan. Tony Zizzo, team owner, made the announcement to the team earlier this year and confirmed it on arrival for the IHRA event.
"Mike Kern has been our Car Chief for the last two season," Tony said. "He'll be the acting crew chief for us in 2008. Mike has done a great job working with us since he came to Zizzo Racing. He learned a lot working with past crew chiefs Dave Settles - and John Harris before that. Mike studies everything, he's a very technical guy. He pays attention to detail and learns a lot. Our entire team works very closely to get this car down the track. Mike will do a great job. He is the guy for our future at Zizzo Racing."
The 39-year-old Kern will lead the team, but he doesn't expect to make many changes. "We're just going to keep doing what we do and hopefully go out there and win some races," Kern said. "We did well last season, so there's not a lot to change. We spent the winter fine tuning the things that affected our consistency last year, little things here and there that should help a bunch on race day. Most teams don't realize how well we run with the parts we have. We don't have the latest and greatest cylinder heads, blowers, fuel system and clutches. I feel that if everyone else had to back up and run what we have on our car right now, we'd be the top of the heap. I think that says a lot about what we can do." Kern brings 30 years of racing experience to the team.
As the son of Mike Faser, Kern grew up on the drag strip. Faser drove the legendary Nitro Funny Car "Chicago Fire". The car was later converted into an AA/Fuel Altered that still runs today. "I can't say I learned everything from any one particular person," Kern says. "It's more like a little from a lot of different people, both directly and indirectly. Most of them don't even know they've taught me something. Aside from Dave Settles and John Harris, we've had Rahn Tobler, Tim Wilkerson, Lance Larsen and many others help us out with stuff."
Kern looks forward to working with his dedicated team. "We have a bunch of great guys including Tony Smith, our clutch chief, as I refer to him, because he's way more than just a clutch specialist. He handles the entire clutch program. No one can do it all and when you have guy that understands what's going on back there, it makes the decisions a whole lot easier."
To learn more about Zizzo Racing visit: Zizzo Racing
