T.J. Zizzo made his Top Fuel debut in September of 2003, and in the last several seasons he’s limited his races but increased his success in the NHRA ranks.

In 2021 he will be competing at two upcoming national events at Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 18-19, and St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 24-26, respectively.

Zizzo will be driving the Rust-Oleum Rocket Top Fuel dragster, in NHRA’s Camping World Drag Racing Series tour.

“I am jacked,” Zizzo said about making his season debut in Brainerd. “As we get closer to that date of competition, I get more and more excited. I actually start dreaming about it. The guys in the body shop know the week of a race that I am not mentally going to be with them. They know I will be thinking of all things racing. Also, the excitement is building because to celebrate 100 years with Rust-Oleum this year will make finally getting to Brainerd really special.”

Last season, Zizzo competed at Indy 1, Indy 2, Indy 4 (the U.S. Nationals) and St. Louis. Zizzo compiled a 5-4 elimination round record and appeared in his first career final round at Indy 2, losing to Justin Ashley.

“Racing to our first final round was exhilarating,” Zizzo said. “I never realized how awesome win lights are. I never realized that turning on win lights makes the entire effort of our team worthwhile. Going to that first final was great but going to our second final round will be even better.”

Zizzo and his family run the Zizzo Auto Body shop in Lincolnshire, Ill., just outside of Chicago.

“To be with my dad (Tony) on a daily basis is great and I think I spend more time with him than I do with my family or friends; it is a way of life here,”

Zizzo said. “We work together every day. I climb into that semitrailer and drive to a race with my dad because we get that time together. I also realize he is 70 years old this year and I cherish every minute we are together. The drive to the races is just the two of us for hours at a time and we get to talk about all sorts of things. We work together 365 days a year, but we don't have a lot of time at the shop to talk because we are both hard at work”

Zizzo also is thrilled to have the support from Rust-Oleum for years and counting.

“For Rust-Oleum to want to celebrate 100 years on our race car on the NHRA series says a lot,” Zizzo said. “They are excited about it, and we are going to rally around and celebrate with a painting by Kenny Youngblood of the Rust-Oleum paint scheme.

“To have support from any corporation is awesome but we have been fortunate to have support from major corporations that see the value in NHRA and our marketing relationships. It is about reaching the right demographics; it is about what Rust-Oleum sees in our team and our relationship and this is a marketing partnership. We work with Rust-Oleum every day in our body shop and are doing something fun, creative, or educational all the time. It has been a wonderful ride and for them to put faith and effort into our race team for the next five years is tremendous.”