For decades Zizzo Racing has competed on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series racing the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster across the country at select national events. The part-time team with a full-time team attitude is led by team owner Tony Zizzo, driver TJ Zizzo and crew chief Mike Kern with an assist in recent years from legendary crew chief Rahn Tobler. Prior to the historic Gatornationals Tobler will be inducted into the Don Garlits Drag Racing Hall of Fame and TJ Zizzo along with his entire team could not be more excited for Tobler who has been instrumental in the impressive progression of their Chicago based Top Fuel team.
“I love Rahn for so many reasons and I am so excited for him to receive this amazing honor,” said Zizzo. “He has been a great help to this Rust-Oleum team on and off the track for decades. His attitude is amazing and his knowledge, attention to detail and giving spirit fits in perfectly with our organization. He has no ego and I am so thankful he has been part of our team working with Mike and the rest of our Rust-Oleum crew. We have known he was a Hall of Famer for years.”Tobler is one of only three NHRA crew chiefs to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, capturing 65 races and counting across both disciplines. Between 1980 and ’82, Tobler led NHRA legend Shirley Muldowney to two NHRA and one AHRA Top Fuel titles and was part of her 1977 NHRA championship team. Tobler led Cruz Pedregon to the NHRA 2008 Funny Car championship, and Ron Capps to the 2016 title as part of Don Schumacher Racing. Tobler’s impact extends beyond titles as many assistants who have worked with him have gone on to great achievements on their own, including former-assistants-turned-crew-chiefs Dickie Venables, Eric Lane and John Collins.
For decades he has simply been dedicated to drag racing and a career that started with a passion for drag racing, a relocation and a chance meeting.
“When I was 15, my mom was transferred from Inglewood, California to Houston for her job, which I thought was the end of the world,” said Tobler. “I used to bag groceries at a grocery store as my afternoon job and there was an auto repair shop that always had the front overhead doors open. One time I caught a glimpse of a front engine top fuel dragster sitting in there. I went by this shop for probably about a month just hanging around and then one day they asked me if I wanted to go to a race with them. This was the Stevens and Venables operation, which was Dickie Venables’ father, and they were going to go to Amarillo for the world finals in 1971 and I jumped in this single cab pickup with them. That was kind of the start of it.”
When Tobler got the call from the hall of fame he was honored and humbled. His long-time friend and Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman made the call and Tobler was thrilled to have that personal interaction.
“Jack and I are good friends and talk regularly. He had indicated to me that my name was certainly going to be on the ballot when the ballots came around,” said Tobler. “He let me know that the voting came out and it was a landslide. This was the first time that I’d ever been on the ballot, so I felt very, very honored. It’s nice to be noticed what for what I’ve done for the last 54 years.”
As a member of Zizzo Racing Tobler has been instrumental in building consistency and high performance with the team. Over the past two seasons the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team has recorded No. 1 qualifiers and set team records for low elapsed time and top speed. Tobler’s insight and discussions with crew chief Mike Kern have made TJ Zizzo and the team one of the most feared part-time operations on the NHRA tour. For Zizzo the opportunity to be competitive has been a thrill for the season generation driver.
“I really can’t say enough about Rahn and what he has brought to the team,” said Zizzo. “When he is at the track, he is constantly looking at our dragster and talking to the guys on the crew. I have never felt more confident in the performance of our team. I am so happy for Rahn to be going into the Hall of Fame.”
Zizzo Racing will make their 2026 NHRA season debut at Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, May 15-17. For more information on Zizzo Racing visit www.zizzoracing.com.
This story was originally published on February 26, 2026. 
