On the surface, Top Fuel owner/driver T.J. Zizzo would have made his return to racing – after 19 months away – because of the temptation of racing at his hometown track in Chicago.

The decision for Zizzo to come back had many layers.

Zizzo is returning to compete at the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance May 19-21 in Chicago.

For the first time in nearly two years, NHRA nitro Funny Car driver/owner Chris King will be back in action.

King is returning to compete at the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance May 19-21 in Chicago. 

“I have been working on this Funny Car deal since our last race in 2021,” said King, who raced successfully in the Top Alcohol Funny Car ranks. “I want to test myself against the best of the best, but I also want to make sure my operation goes A to B with quality parts and a professional looking team. I have to thank Howard Cams, Competition Products, Red Line Oil, and Reid Rocker Arms for coming on board and helping make this happen. We plan on doing at least six and maybe more races if everything works out. We are trying to secure sponsors every day.”

With the simple instruction of "you better make 'em fast," elite car builders Joey Riley and Rory Roberts are hard at work constructing Car No.1 of a limited number of high-performance Chevrolet Nova hot rods honoring drag racing icon Shirley Muldowney. 

With the first of 25 "Cha Cha" Novas scheduled to be officially unveiled at the 2024 SEMA Show, Riley, Roberts and Muldowney have advanced well past the drawing board stage on this historic project. On May 12, the four-time world champion will by on hand to add her signature to the actual glovebox cover of the initial special-edition, 1,000-horsepower hot rod at Riley Performance and Restoration headquarters in Gainesville, Texas.

 
Red Line Oil, a leading manufacturer of motor oils and lubricants, has signed on as the title sponsor of the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Carolina Nationals, series officials announced today. Held Sept. 14-16 at Darlington Dragway, the Red Line Oil Carolina Nationals is the sixth of eight championship points races on the 2023 PDRA schedule. 
 
“We’re honored to bring in a brand like Red Line Oil to the PDRA family,” said Will Smith, marketing director, PDRA. “As we continue to celebrate our 10th season, it means a lot to have the support of industry leaders and companies that offer the products and support our racers need. From 4,000-horsepower Pro Mods to our Jr. Dragster classes, Red Line Oil has products for all of our racers. We’re excited to begin this relationship with the Red Line Oil team.”

Joey Gladstone knows his way around a Pro Stock Motorcycle.

That's something he's known practically his entire life.

Recently, Gladstone added working as a back half worker on Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson's Camaro.

Imagine being a Pro Mod driver, strapped behind the wheel of a vehicle that feels like it can rotate the earth on launch – somewhat similar to what astronauts feel when those massive rockets light up underneath their  … seats.

When asked what he might be doing if not driving his supercharged 1957 Buick in NMCA’s Pro Mod class, Ty Tutterow would like to be blasting through the heavens.

“I’d want to be in the lineup of people that fly to the moon,” he said. “Outside of driving a Pro Modified, it’s probably the only other thing that’d be that much of a rush.”

Some might find it hard to believe, but the plan was never for Tony Stewart to drag race. Whenever a reporter asked when he was going to transition from owner to driver, he’d respond, “Nice try.”

With a straight face, Stewart’s wife and Top Fuel racer Leah Pruett will back up the claim.

“That most definitely was not ever any type of initial plan," she said. "We’ve been very up-front about what the plans have been as they’ve come.”

For the first time, the Pro Stock drivers will get to do the calling out.

Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway, the next race on the NHRA tour, will feature the NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout, which will take place on Saturday, May 20.

The unique race-within-a-race pits eight standout drivers in grudge-style callout format and essentially lines up as a KB Titan Racing vs. Elite Motorsports bunkhouse stampede. 
 
Four cars from each team make up the eight-car lineup, where KB Titan’s Dallas Glenn is seeded first, followed by teammates Matt Hartford and Kyle Koretsky. Elite Motorsports standouts Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr., Cristian Cuadra, and defending world champ Erica Enders fill up the next four slots, followed by KB Titan’s Camrie Caruso to round out the field.

Three-time NHRA champion Larry Dixon will return to Australia for the second time this year to race for Rapisarda Autosport International at 

Round Six of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship meeting at Sydney Dragway, May 5-6.

Dixon will race alongside RAI teammates Wayne Newby and Damien Harris.

A year ago, Will Smith made the jump from the Top Alcohol ranks and received his Top Fuel license.

Smith made his debut at the Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals last September in Indianapolis and came up a little short of making the 16-car field.

Now, Smith is back for another race – the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance May 19-21 in Chicago.