- Ida Zetterström makes her NHRA T/F debut at Brainerd International Raceway
- Zetterström enters the fight for Rookie of the Year with eight races left
- Zetterström teammates with Tony Schumacher, past NHRA Champion
Olive Branch, MS — Ida Zetterström, the reigning Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) European Top Fuel Champion, is set to make her National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Mission Foods Drag Racing Series debut this weekend at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota. With just eight events left to go in the series, Zetterström will be piloting the JCM Racing/VP Racing Fuels/Edelbrock/COMP Cams/Dodge Top Fuel Dragster in pursuit of the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year Award.
European History
Zetterström completed her licensing at the Euro Finals Shootout with a stunning 3.862-second pass, the fastest FIA licensing pass ever, making her the fourth-quickest Top Fuel driver in Europe. In December, she visited the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show in Indianapolis and secured Edelbrock as an associate sponsor.
In her first official FIA event of 2022, she piloted the RF Motorsport Top Fuel Dragster to a European record pass of 3.782 seconds, becoming the first team to clock a 3.7-second pass in Europe. Then, they went on to win the second event, eventually finishing third in the championship, gaining Zetterström a place on Drag Illustrated‘s prestigious 30-under-30 list.
For 2023, RF and Zetterström continued their dominance, and Edelbrock/COMP Cams stepped in as the primary sponsor. The team had numerous number 1 qualifiers, reset the E.T. and speed records (3.773@321mph), and only lost one round on their way to claiming the FIA Championship.
Coming to America
Never content to rest, Zetterström set her sights across the pond in the United States with a new goal of going faster in the NHRA, making her intentions known at PRI that year. She met with Joe Maynard of JCM Racing, who wanted to expand his T/F operation into a two-dragster team. A deal was struck, including a partnership with Edelbrock/COMP Cams branding on both cars.
“This is a unique opportunity to bring a talented rising star into the world of NHRA Drag Racing,” said JCM Racing team owner Joe Maynard at the time. “We’ve followed Ida’s success on and off the track for some time now. She obviously has the skills it takes to excel in Top Fuel. She’s the full package. I believe Ida has a bright future in NHRA Drag Racing, and we’re thrilled that she’s making her U.S. debut as a member of our JCM Racing organization.”
The Edelbrock Group was equally excited about continuing with Zetterström and partnering with JCM Racing. “We are proud to continue supporting Ida as she steps into her first year of NHRA competition with JCM Racing,” said Edelbrock Group President/CEO Chris Douglas. “Giving Ida this opportunity, Joe Maynard recognized the same talent, passion, and fire in her that we saw in 2021. Ida has been an excellent ambassador of our iconic brands. We are happy to support JCM Racing for the 2024 season and Ida’s run for NHRA Rookie of the Year.”
Ida’s Wait Is Over
Zetterström has had to wait as JCM hired and trained crew members and built her dragster from the ground up. However, she has had little downtime as she completed her move to the United States, got to know her teammates, participated in test sessions, and supported her new teammate, Tony Schumacher. Now, the time has come for Zetterström and her JCM team to put everything into practice. In true champion style, she is appreciative and anxious to get started.
“It is such an honor to partner with Edelbrock Group this year as I join the NHRA circuit for the first time,” said European T/F Champion Ida Zetterström. “Edelbrock Group has been such a huge part of my success in Europe. Its brand names are embedded in drag racing, and I’m truly honored to have that association as I make my NHRA debut.
“I’m excited as a driver to jump into the seat, but I’m also excited for us as a team to come out with two cars and for our JCM/VP Racing Fuels/Edelbrock/Comp Cams/Dodge team to hit the track in competition for the first time. I have tremendous confidence in my team and what we’ve built. The time has come to show what we’ve been working on for so many months.”
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