Ida Zetterstrom arrived in the United States with a defined vision for how she would build a career in Top Fuel, and her first two seasons suggested that plan was realistic. After a breakout sophomore year in 2025, she expected 2026 to be a continuation, not a reset.
That expectation changed when the offseason arrived, forcing Zetterstrom to confront a different landscape while still insisting that her goal remains unchanged: race Top Fuel at the highest level.
“I’m trying, yes,” Zetterstrom said when asked about racing in 2026. “I can’t give you all the information, but I’m going to try to give you as much as possible.”
She confirmed that discussions with Joe and PJ Maynard following the season led to a clear shift in direction for the JCM operation. The team, she said, will not be fielding a Top Fuel car in the NHRA next season.
“That has kind of set me back, obviously, on this season, trying to figure out what to do,” Zetterstrom said.
The decision was not framed as a separation marked by tension or disappointment. Zetterstrom emphasized gratitude for the opportunity JCM provided and credited the team for prioritizing her future even as it stepped back.
“They wanted to make sure that I’m landing in a good situation moving forward,” she said. “They want me to be set up for success wherever I go.”
Zetterstrom is now working toward a partial Top Fuel schedule rather than a full-season championship run. The target, she said, is 10 to 12 races, with the hope of expanding if additional support materializes.
“I am working on a deal right now,” she said. “It won’t be a full-time deal. I’m still working my hardest to make it a half-season.”
While the situation appears uncertain to those on the outside, Zetterstrom rejected the idea that her program lacks direction. She said the plan is largely complete, with only a few remaining pieces delaying a formal announcement.
“We have a plan,” she said. “We have a press release that’s ready to go out. There’s still just a few missing pieces in it.”
Her emphasis on structure reflects how she evaluates potential teams. Zetterstrom said performance and professionalism matter as much as opportunity.
“It will be with a team that have a good car and a good business mindset,” she said. “Understanding of branding and what’s needed for our partners in this sport.”
That focus, she added, is non-negotiable. Zetterstrom has consistently described herself as results-driven, not someone content to simply fill lanes.
“I’m not someone that just goes out here to race because it’s fun,” she said. “I’m very, very competitive, and that will be top of priority for me.”
If her Top Fuel schedule doesn’t allow for a full season, Zetterstrom intends to remain visible by competing in another category. She declined to specify which class, but made clear it would not replace her primary ambition.
“I’m also kind of looking at some opportunities to potentially do some racing in some other classes,” she said. “Top Fuel is my main priority, and that’s what I want to do full-time.”
Pressed for details, Zetterstrom offered only careful hints. The mystery option, she confirmed, would involve four wheels and possibly a door car.
“At least it will be a new opportunity for me,” she said. “I’ve done the two-wheel, I’ve done the dragsters, and I’m excited about the opportunity to maybe make some laps in a door car.”
Zetterstrom’s comfort with uncertainty did not begin in the United States. She said her European career also required self-funding and persistence, even during formative years.
“By the time I graduated from Junior Dragster, I was on my own financially,” she said. “When it comes to financing a race program, I was on my own.”
There were seasons she could not race at all, she said, because the finances did not align. While studying to become an electrician, she worked and saved, waiting for another opening.
“When I got back in, I started racing the bike,” Zetterstrom said. “Even the first couple of years on the bike, it was a constant hustle.”
That pattern continued when she transitioned to Top Fuel. She recalled losing a primary sponsor in 2023 just weeks before the season began, forcing a last-minute rebuild of the program.
“We were able to put together the program on a B2B program that was really strong,” she said. “But that came together in the last minute.”
The financial realities of racing in the United States surprised her, particularly when compared to Europe, where the costs are significantly lower. The jump in expenses has made sponsor support essential.
“Racing in the U.S. is dramatically more expensive than in Europe,” Zetterström said. “There’s no way I could do this without the support of my sponsors and partners.”
What has been hardest, she added, is the realization that performance alone does not guarantee opportunity. Relationships, background and timing often matter just as much.
“It’s been way harder mentally to understand over here that a lot of it has to do with where you come from, and who you know,” she said.
Despite that reality, Zetterstrom said she does not regret relocating to the United States. Racing here, she said, remains the center of her long-term ambition.
“Absolutely not,” she said when asked if she second-guessed the move. “I’m really, really happy I came over.”
What weighs on her most is the lack of margin for pause. Unlike many drivers, she said, she cannot step away from competition without risking her ability to remain in the country.
“I can’t even be away and do a year of announcing or so on if I don’t have a ride,” Zetterstrom said. “That wouldn’t allow me to stay in the country.”
The pressure, she acknowledged, is constant. Building relationships takes time she does not have, and patience does not always quiet anxiety.
“You just can’t grow connections overnight,” she said. “So, I’ll just keep working at it.”
Her sponsors, she said, continue to affirm her value beyond wins and losses. That validation, while meaningful, has not yet delivered long-term security.
“The sponsors that I do have, they’re saying that I’m the best athlete they have on the roster right now,” Zetterstrom said. “It’s because of everything else we do together.”
As for JCM, Zetterstrom was careful to frame the team’s step back as transitional rather than final.
“It’s no bad feelings,” she said. “They’re still working with me on finding a home for next year and beyond.”
JCM, she noted, will remain present at the track through its hospitality efforts with Ron Capps and Maddi, and Joe has already expressed his intention to remain personally involved.
“One of the things Joe said is, he wants to have a hard card so he can stand behind my car when we get out there and race,” Zetterstrom said.
For now, Zetterstrom continues to work toward finalizing her 2026 plans. The answers, she insists, are closer than they appear, even if they are not yet public.
“We are on the same page with all that,” she said.
