ZIZZO DELIVERS PIZZA PAY OFF FOLLOWING SUMMERNATIONALS FINAL

ST LOUIS – There was a lot on the line at Lucas Oil Raceway Park during the final round of the postponed NHRA Summernationals in July. Veteran Top Fuel driver TJ Zizzo in his Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster was squaring off with rookie driver Justin Ashley in his Strutmasters.com powered by MANSCAPED™ dragster. Both drivers were looking for their first NHRA national event win and in addition to the golden hardware there was a critical side bet between the racers. During a pre-race joint interview on Joe Castello’s WFO Radio Happy Hour Show the Friday before the U.S. Nationals a pizza bet was proposed with the loser delivering pizza to the victor the next time they raced together. Had Zizzo prevailed he and his team would have been the recipient of New York style pizza courtesy of Justin Ashley. As it turned out Zizzo delivered Chicago style pizza to Ashley’s team at the end of the day today of the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

“Everyone out here is very competitive but at the end of the day we also want to have a little fun,” said Zizzo. “Justin and I made a little pizza bet and now we are paying off. There is nothing better than Chicago style pizza in my opinion and next time Justin and I meet in a final I hope he is delivering me some pies at the next race.”

Justin Ashley’s team was thrilled to be on the receiving end of the free pizza and he knew he very easily could have been the one delivering. Both drivers have a mutual respect for each other that goes beyond their affinity for pizzas.

“We knew we would have our hands full with TJ’s team,” said Ashley. “They have been out here a lot longer than us and he has an amazing group of guys on his team. I don’t look at them as a part-time. I think of them as a full-time team that only races when it fits their schedule. From top to bottom they are a class act. TJ came over after the final and wrote down our pizza order.”