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Rust-Oleum Rocket Crew Looking for a Double Wally Weekend at the Big Go

CLERMONT, IN – After earning his way into the final round at the NHRA SummerNationals six weeks ago, TJ Zizzo and the Rust-Oleum Rocket team are ready to finally race that round Saturday against fellow first-time Top Fuel finals participant, Justin Ashley. The original date was scrapped due to inclement weather and the best date for both teams to wrap up their business was the prestigious DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA US Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.

With both the SummerNats and Big Go Wallys on the line, Zizzo’s stress level also doubled up prior to arriving here.

“My heart rate is usually up before Indy, my dad’s heart rate is usually up, and that usually counts as a lot of stress before this event,” said the second-generation racer. “Our team members feel it, our significant others feel it, our employees feel it, everyone feels our stress before this event and has for the last almost 40 years! This is no different. It’s ten times worse because we’ve got a final round to race from the SummerNationals!

“I was up on the tire Sunday. Thankfully, I’ve learned in my elder age (TJ celebrated a birthday Aug. 19) to just kinda take a deep breath. My mom taught me that when I start to get up on the tire, I should just breathe and focus on something else, other than the stress I’m dealing with at the time. I did that on Sunday and guess what, everything fell together.”

For the Chicagoland native, dealing with stress before a race may be an issue, but when it comes to the Rust-Oleum Rocket, he has zero concerns.

“As of Sunday, we didn’t have a generator that ran, we didn’t have an air compressor that worked, we didn’t have AC in the trailer that I was confident in, we didn’t have nothin’!” Zizzo said, laughing. “Race cars always go together well, that will always work out good. I’m never even concerned about any of that. The guys on our race team are bad ass. I don’t even worry about the race car, I just worry how we’re going to get there, how the pit area is going to be, will all our tools work, all that stuff. But the race car, the guys I have backing my ass up all the time? I don’t have to worry about a race car.”

As stated above, one of the reasons for the rescheduled SummerNationals’ E4 drawing so much attention is the fact the man in the other lane is also racing his first-ever final round. After six weeks’ of buildup, the two have gotten to know one another and for his part, Zizzo has been impressed by Ashley’s demeanor.

“Justin Ashley, that kid is a good dude!” Zizzo said. “He’s just a good young man. God, I wish I was that happy, energetic, fun, well-spoken…I wish I was as well-spoken as he is when I was a young man, maybe I would’ve gotten more girlfriends!”

The opening round of the shortened DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA US Nationals for the nitro classes is Friday at 7:35 p.m. EDT with rounds 2 and 3 scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. & 6:15 p.m., respectively. The final round to the Lucas Oil Summernationals featuring Zizzo and Ashley is expected to run during Q3. Eliminations for the US Nationals kick off Sunday at 10 a.m. Zizzo’s finals run can be seen at 10 p.m. Saturday on FS1.

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