NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Making a debut in the high-powered world of NHRA Top Fuel racing is no small feat for even North American drivers, but it’s a whole other level of tough coming from across the Atlantic Ocean.

For Ida Zetterström, it’s been a journey marked by relentless work, dedication, and an unyielding passion for the sport. When Zetterström first announced her move to Top Fuel at the PRI Show to be part of the JCM Racing organization, she knew the road ahead would be challenging, but she was ready to embrace it fully.

“It’s been a lot of work,” she says, reflecting on the months leading up to her debut at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. “From the moment we announced this deal, we kicked into gear, getting all the paperwork sorted to come over to the U.S. That’s something I think many people here might not consider as much, but it was a significant part of the process.”

After winning the 2023 FIA Top Fuel world championship, Swedish-born Zetterström moved to the U.S. from the Aland Islands in February, and the journey to the U.S. has been about more than just racing. It’s been a personal and professional transformation. 

“Moving here was a big decision, but it felt easy because it’s something I’ve been working towards for years,” she explains. “Being here, close to everything we need, has been refreshing and has made our work so much easier. I feel like I’m living my American dream. I think what I've had to learn most is basically small stuff, like what food you like, and what brands or stuff you like in the grocery store. It feels like I'm 16 or 17 years old, moving from home and trying to learn how to go grocery shopping by myself. But other than that, I think that the transition has been probably easier than I thought to come over here because I'm doing it because of racing, and all the racing is so good.”

“I've been working towards coming to the United States for quite a few years. This is where I want to be for many years to come. It's something I've been working towards basically since I got my [Top Fuel] license in 2021.

“In 2022, I still felt like I had a lot to learn as a driver. We won an event, set the new European record, and had a strong [third-place] finish, but I still felt like there was still a lot as a driver. 2023 is when I perfected my driving and added so much more that helped me, everything from a personal trainer five times a week who I worked out with and got in the best shape I've ever been, which helped my reaction times, to the right food and sleep. I gave everything I had into winning that championship in Europe, and that made me a better driver working with my crew chief, Rune Fjeld, who has raced for over 40 years and licensed many drivers. I became better as a driver, which gave me the confidence to come over here and race.”

From February until her first race, it was a whirlwind of activity. The team’s efforts spanned everything from finishing the chassis, making seat molds, and preparing the car, to equipping the trailer with tools and spare parts and testing, lots of testing.

“We had to hire personnel, too,” Ida adds. “Since we’re not racing a full season, we don’t have a big, full-time crew. We have a few key people, including Jon Schaefer, my crew chief, who has been instrumental in getting this program up and running.”

The intense preparation paid off, culminating in a debut that Ida describes as surreal. She beat four-time world champion Steve Torrence on a holeshot in round one and got a solo test pass in round two for the short field before red-lighting in the semifinals.

Despite her limited time with the car, the team’s performance on the track was impressive. 

“We managed three full passes out of four in qualifying, which was a big win for us as a team and gave us a lot of data,” she added.

“I’ve heard a lot of hype about our team and my debut, and I wanted to live up to that. We’re not just here to participate; we’re here to compete with the full-time teams and chase a championship next year.”

As she looked forward to the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, she was fully aware of the challenges that lays ahead. 

“[The Brainerd] weekend was about finding our momentum going into Indy. We know we’ll face bigger fields and tougher competition, but I’m confident in what we’ve built. It’s all about timing and getting everything to come together.”

Despite the pressures of debuting in NHRA’s biggest events, Zetterström has maintained a level head, always focused on doing her best. “Lining up against the best drivers in the world doesn’t change my mindset,” she says. “My mindset is always to do my best as a driver, and if I stick to my routines and do what I know I do best, hopefully, that’s enough.”

Looking ahead, Zetterström is excited about what’s to come. The U.S. Nationals will be a test, but she’s ready to show that she and her team are a force to be reckoned with. “This is a strong team,” she says confidently. “We belong here, and we know how to build a good team. Keep your eyes on us -- we’re here to stay.”

With her focus set on the main event, Zetterström is also excited about competing in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge in Indy, the reward for her strong semifinal finish in Brainerd.

“I’m excited to compete in my first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge," she said. "That will be an extra, fun element for us this weekend. I have a lot of friends and family flying in for this event, so this will be the closest thing to a home race for me. Not to mention, with our team being based right down the street in Brownsburg, many of our crew guys’ families are coming out, so we’ll have lots of support this weekend."

Also high on her list is her campaign to become the 2024 Rookie of the Year. A lot of other drivers, including Tony Stewart and Jasmine Salinas in Top Fuel, have a huge head start on her, which is why the team is having fun with their political-themed campaign.

“We have had so much fun with that,” he said. “Obviously, we know we are late coming into this year. We have a lot of the Rookie of the Year candidates that have run a full season, so we know that coming in late might make it harder for us to have a chance, but it’s also one of the reasons why we thought it was even more fun to do some big marketing around it. 

“The Rookie of the Year Award comes down to who performs best at the track and who shows you know best. We want to show on track that we are someone who is here to stay and that they can count on us to do some big upsets and be here to chase wins and championships. But the Rookie of the Year campaign, we rolled out with an American theme, a little spin-off on this year's election, which is something that's extra fun for me. Obviously, I'm not American, but this is about me getting to live my American dream, so that's also why we chose to have the car in red, white and blue, and the stars and the stripes just all show that I'm very honored to race in the American NHRA series.”

Ida Zetterström’s journey to Top Fuel racing has been one of dedication, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As she continues to make her mark in the NHRA, it’s clear that she’s just getting started. The road ahead is long, but if her debut is any indication, she is more than ready to take on whatever comes next.