DIXON, ZIZZO HAVE FOOTBALL INSPIRATIONS
What do Tom Brady and Mike Ditka have to do with drag racing? Well, nothing, really, except to serve as inspiration for a couple of Top Fuel racers. Larry Dixon, a nine-time winner this season in the Al-Anabi Dragster on his way to securing the No. 1 ranking heading into the Countdown, identifies with the New England Patriots quarterback.
Said Dixon, "I feel very proud that we've done as well as we've done and won as many races as we have in the regular season. I'm proud of the Al-Anabi team. But ask Tom Brady about his undefeated regular season (2007-08) and ask him where that ranks in his career accomplishments. I think he would say that's not among his top memories, because he didn't win the Super Bowl. (The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in the Feb. 3, 2008 Super Bowl.) Any of the 10 teams in the countdown has a good shot at winning the Full Throttle championship, and at this point, the championship is all that really counts. It would be an honor to win a Full Throttle championship for the Al-Anabi Racing team, His Highness Sheik Khalid and the people of Qatar. We have a long way to go, but it all starts this weekend."
Said Dixon, "I feel very proud that we've done as well as we've done and won as many races as we have in the regular season. I'm proud of the Al-Anabi team. But ask Tom Brady about his undefeated regular season (2007-08) and ask him where that ranks in his career accomplishments. I think he would say that's not among his top memories, because he didn't win the Super Bowl. (The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in the Feb. 3, 2008 Super Bowl.) Any of the 10 teams in the countdown has a good shot at winning the Full Throttle championship, and at this point, the championship is all that really counts. It would be an honor to win a Full Throttle championship for the Al-Anabi Racing team, His Highness Sheik Khalid and the people of Qatar. We have a long way to go, but it all starts this weekend."
T.J. Zizzo, from the Chicago suburb of Lincolnshire, Ill., is a teammate of sorts with hometown hero Ditka, a legend as player and coach for his beloved Chicago Bears. During the summer they met at a speaking engagement, and Zizzo said Ditka told him, "You have a great marketing partner with Peak." Added Zizzo, "He remembered in the 1980s, when he was a spokesperson for Peak, and how well he was treated by them. I am proud to be part of their family for seven years now, and I will continue to represent all of our marketing partners with dignity."
Of course, Morgan Lucas and his family's Hoosier-bred Lucas Oil company are closely tied with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts as title sponsor of the downtown stadium that will host the next Super Bowl. Quarterback Peyton manning has been a guest of the Lucas family at the U.S. Nationals, and Morgan Lucas -- a devoted fan of former Colts coach Tony Dungy -- hosts the Eric Medlen Memorial Golf Tournament that benefits the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent on Indianapolis' Northside. Among those who signed up for this year's tournament was Tom Zupancic, Indianapolis Colts senior vice president of sales and marketing.
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