LAS VEGAS – TJ Zizzo and the PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner Top Fuel team made a heroic effort in the final round of qualifying Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, putting themselves solidly in the field at 11th with an ET of 3.879 seconds at a team record 319.14 mph. They knew they had their work cut out for them, however, with three-time and defending NHRA Full Throttle Series Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon in the opposite lane.
The Big O Tires NHRA Nationals E1 pairing was only the third time in Zizzo’s career he has faced Dixon, the most recent matchup coming at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Penn., in 2005. The champ put it down the track in 3.844 seconds to earn the round win, while Zizzo became a victim of the right lane, striking his tires. Only David Grubnic earned a round win in the right lane in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.
“We had to change some things right before the first round,” Zizzo said, “and it left the front end light. So when we hit the gas, we went back on the wheelie bar harder than we anticipated due to the front being lighter.
“That takes nothing away from Dixon, though. He’s a great contender on a great team. We’re just proud to have qualified here at Vegas and put our PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner dragster in the show. We’re looking forward to represent PEAK at the world finals in Pomona in a few weeks.”
Zizzo Racing’s next race is the final race of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series season. The Auto Club NHRA Finals will be held Nov. 10-13 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. For more information and tickets, click HERE.
The Big O Tires NHRA Nationals E1 pairing was only the third time in Zizzo’s career he has faced Dixon, the most recent matchup coming at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Penn., in 2005. The champ put it down the track in 3.844 seconds to earn the round win, while Zizzo became a victim of the right lane, striking his tires. Only David Grubnic earned a round win in the right lane in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.
“We had to change some things right before the first round,” Zizzo said, “and it left the front end light. So when we hit the gas, we went back on the wheelie bar harder than we anticipated due to the front being lighter.
“That takes nothing away from Dixon, though. He’s a great contender on a great team. We’re just proud to have qualified here at Vegas and put our PEAK Motor Oil/Herculiner dragster in the show. We’re looking forward to represent PEAK at the world finals in Pomona in a few weeks.”
Zizzo Racing’s next race is the final race of the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Series season. The Auto Club NHRA Finals will be held Nov. 10-13 at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. For more information and tickets, click HERE.
