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LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (August 21, 2007) - In the midst of a great IHRA Top Fuel points battle that is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent history, T.J. Zizzo, driver of the Race News Magazine Top Fuel Dragster doesn't really want to talk about points or wins or even races. Zizzo wants to talk about the team. It's not that racing isn't important, after all, it is what brought this team together.
As Zizzo Racing competes for its first championship, T.J. reflects on the team that makes it happen. "This entire team is made up of men and women with full-time jobs," T.J. said. "Normally they're all here on Tuesday and Saturday night getting this car ready for a race. In August we had three races in row, they were all here every day of the week, yes, including Sunday. It's not like these guys live in the neighborhood, some have to fight 30 to 40 miles of Chicago traffic just to get here."
"It would be hard to find 14 people to do what these guys do for money, much less just for the love of drag racing," Zizzo added. "This team is something special. I may never get to experience this again in my career, a chance to be a part of something special."
The team consist of Tony Zizzo, team owner and the owner of a Zizzo Enterprises, a body shop in Illinois. T.J. Zizzo pilots the top fuel rocket and manages the family body shop. The clutch for the race car is managed by Tony Smith, a 14 year veteran of the team and a Dollar Tree Distribution Manager. When Dave Settles isn't working as an engineer, he's serving as the crew chief. Dave has been with Zizzo for two years. For the past four seasons Mike Kern has been the car chief and manager. He is an engineer for Dana Corporation.
One of the tougher jobs on a top fuel team is the bottom end. Those duties are handled by a Union Iron Worker, Dave Wikell, who's been with the team for 10 seasons. The cylinder heads are in good hands. The right side is handled by Paul Hicks (machine assembler at Miller) and left side by Ray Elbe (owner Ray's Auto) with four and 10 season respectively on the team. Brett Konken has worked on the cylinder heads for two seasons, he's also the Steam Plant Manager for Abbott Labs.
A top fuel team relies on their clutch guy. He's got one of the hottest, dirtiest jobs, yet everything is measured in grams and checked with a micrometer for accuracy. Zizzo has relied on Joe Cluts for the past three seasons. Lincoln-Mercury relies on him as a technician during the week. Rick Messmore is a utility guy for the team and is responsible for the fuel. He's a manager at McDonalds and has been with the team for three seasons. Bob Szelag pulls double duty for the team as a utility guy and the is responsible for the team photographs. This is Bob's first season.
Beauty is added to the Zizzo Racing team with Sita Konken and Cathie Gallo. Sita prepares team meals, making sure the proper nutrition fuels them for the high energy thrashing needed to turn the car between rounds. She also handles hospitality and has been with the team for two seasons and is a Curves employee during the week.
The smile in the pits that sponsors and guests see first is that of Cathie Gallo (owner of Universal Concepts). She has been with the team for seven seasons. She's in charge of team marketing and is credited with putting together the Race News Magazine relationship.
As Zizzo reflects on his team, the 14 men and women that make up Zizzo Racing are preparing for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals this August 24-26 at the Milan Dragway near Detroit, Michigan.
The Zizzo Racing Team proudly represents Race News Magazine, Peak Antifreeze and HTP America.
To learn more about Race News Magazine and Zizzo Racing visit: Zizzo Racing
Nothing but love drives Zizzo Racing
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. (August 21, 2007) - In the midst of a great IHRA Top Fuel points battle that is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent history, T.J. Zizzo, driver of the Race News Magazine Top Fuel Dragster doesn't really want to talk about points or wins or even races. Zizzo wants to talk about the team. It's not that racing isn't important, after all, it is what brought this team together.
As Zizzo Racing competes for its first championship, T.J. reflects on the team that makes it happen. "This entire team is made up of men and women with full-time jobs," T.J. said. "Normally they're all here on Tuesday and Saturday night getting this car ready for a race. In August we had three races in row, they were all here every day of the week, yes, including Sunday. It's not like these guys live in the neighborhood, some have to fight 30 to 40 miles of Chicago traffic just to get here."
"It would be hard to find 14 people to do what these guys do for money, much less just for the love of drag racing," Zizzo added. "This team is something special. I may never get to experience this again in my career, a chance to be a part of something special."
The team consist of Tony Zizzo, team owner and the owner of a Zizzo Enterprises, a body shop in Illinois. T.J. Zizzo pilots the top fuel rocket and manages the family body shop. The clutch for the race car is managed by Tony Smith, a 14 year veteran of the team and a Dollar Tree Distribution Manager. When Dave Settles isn't working as an engineer, he's serving as the crew chief. Dave has been with Zizzo for two years. For the past four seasons Mike Kern has been the car chief and manager. He is an engineer for Dana Corporation.
One of the tougher jobs on a top fuel team is the bottom end. Those duties are handled by a Union Iron Worker, Dave Wikell, who's been with the team for 10 seasons. The cylinder heads are in good hands. The right side is handled by Paul Hicks (machine assembler at Miller) and left side by Ray Elbe (owner Ray's Auto) with four and 10 season respectively on the team. Brett Konken has worked on the cylinder heads for two seasons, he's also the Steam Plant Manager for Abbott Labs.
A top fuel team relies on their clutch guy. He's got one of the hottest, dirtiest jobs, yet everything is measured in grams and checked with a micrometer for accuracy. Zizzo has relied on Joe Cluts for the past three seasons. Lincoln-Mercury relies on him as a technician during the week. Rick Messmore is a utility guy for the team and is responsible for the fuel. He's a manager at McDonalds and has been with the team for three seasons. Bob Szelag pulls double duty for the team as a utility guy and the is responsible for the team photographs. This is Bob's first season.
Beauty is added to the Zizzo Racing team with Sita Konken and Cathie Gallo. Sita prepares team meals, making sure the proper nutrition fuels them for the high energy thrashing needed to turn the car between rounds. She also handles hospitality and has been with the team for two seasons and is a Curves employee during the week.
The smile in the pits that sponsors and guests see first is that of Cathie Gallo (owner of Universal Concepts). She has been with the team for seven seasons. She's in charge of team marketing and is credited with putting together the Race News Magazine relationship.
As Zizzo reflects on his team, the 14 men and women that make up Zizzo Racing are preparing for the Suzuki Motor City Nationals this August 24-26 at the Milan Dragway near Detroit, Michigan.
The Zizzo Racing Team proudly represents Race News Magazine, Peak Antifreeze and HTP America.
To learn more about Race News Magazine and Zizzo Racing visit: Zizzo Racing
