INDIANAPOLIS — Learning was the name of the game for Ida Zetterström during her maiden NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Moving over from the European FIA Championship to chase the NHRA tour this season, Zetterström was in for some changes.
Aside from the personal aspect of moving to the United States, adjusting to NHRA drag racing was unique for the 30-year-old Swede.
Fresh off her Top Fuel title in the European series last season, the subtleties of the car first came to mind as she joined the SPEED SPORT stage during the PRI trade show in Indianapolis.
“It’s the same, but it’s different,” Zetterström began. “It’s racing, it’s also, obviously the cars, it’s still Top Fuel dragster. Same amount of power. It’s just the tracks are very different.
“So, that is one of the aspects that has been a big factor in coming over here and trying to really learn. The track prep is a little different and kind of how the cars are reacting to that. But also, obviously, when you have a new team and you have a new car, I’m in a closed canopy car now, compared to an open canopy car in Europe.
“That changes quite a bit on how you hear things in the car and your vision in the car and so on. It’s something to adapt to. But, also, just having different crew chiefs basically. You can definitely feel that they tune the car differently.
“Clutch comes in at a different time, or certain things feel different,” Zetterström continued. “This car is built a little bit different. Some chassis have more flex than others. Some have steering set up in different ways and so on. All that has been kind of things that I have gotten to learn over here and still learning.
“I need more seat time. The more you can get in the car, the more comfortable you feel. In Europe racing, I was really comfortable in my car. Coming over here, the more time you get in the car, the more of that feeling you get.”
Seat time for Zetterström was difficult at first this year. Limited testing to begin the year alongside building a race team and race car were two key components that at first, she struggled to sit back.
“I mean, having to wait… I’m not that great at waiting,” Zetterstrom laughed. “In the beginning of it, I had a hard time just because when I came over here in February, I was so eager to get in the car.
“I could not wait. Especially being at the race track with helping out Tony’s team with stuff like mixing the fuel, fueling his car and just being part of it, taking care of your sponsors. Being there, but not being in the seat.
“It was mentally tough for a little while. But the good thing was that it wasn’t like we had a car just sitting at the sidelines waiting for me to get in it. We were literally building everything up from scratch.”
Despite the racing itch creeping in, Zetterström found a rhythm working behind the scenes. In a way, the six-month waiting period turned into a blossoming project that she was able to witness and be a part of from start to finish.
“Being able to be part of that process of everything from getting trailers in, equipping trailers, getting tools and parts and everything and getting that chassis built, getting out for the first test sessions,” Zetterström said.
“It made me feel calm because I was part of the process. I saw what we were building and you see so much potential in it and how good it’s going to be.
“So, instead of stressing to get out on the track, you got to be part of this great project, basically, of building your future that you’re going to do.”
Zetterström eventually made her debut in August at Minnesota’s Brainerd Int’l Raceway, where she stunned four-time champion Steve Torrence in the first round.
While her NHRA debut was a successful one, it wasn’t without a battle. With drivers and teams having a half-year head start on both herself and her JCM Racing team, Zetterström stated she and the team knew it’d be an uphill fight.
“Coming in, let’s say we were coming in in Gainesville,” Zetterström began. “A lot of teams are still trying new stuff and kind of trying to figure everything out for what they’re doing this year.
“But, when you come in at such a crucial point that we did right before the points resets and right before the Countdown starts, everybody kind of got their s— together, so to say.
“It’s a hard time to get in. The drivers are so on it on reaction time and they’ve been in the heat for 12 races when I started. I had been out of the seat for almost a year when I got in.”
Nonetheless, Zetterström fought valiantly as she completed the final eight races of the season with a best qualifying effort of eighth at the Texas Fall Nationals.
Entering next season, however, comes with uncertainty for Zetterström and her team. While JCM Racing has her team fully assembled, having enough partners to join her Top Fuel program has been difficult.
“As we’re looking at it right now, we don’t have the funding to run a full season in 2025,” Zetterström explained. “So, obviously we are still looking for more partners. We have some absolutely fantastic partners in this sport and all of them love what we’re doing and want to be part of this.
“We have been able to show a big return on investment on all our business-to-business deals we’re doing. We love them, but we need more of them. We need more of those great partners and more of those great companies that we can be out there representing and working together with.”
Zetterström is unable to commit to a full schedule. However, she’s optimistic about what the next few months ahead of the season opener at Florida’s Gainesville Raceway will present.
“I want to do really big things in this sport and I know that was a big part of the reason why JCM brought me in,” Zetterström said. “They see us doing big things in the sport.
“For that, we need great partners to be able to do that. This is a crucial part of the season. I’m hoping in the next couple of months we have everything buttoned up and we can come out with a schedule.
“Like I said, we know we’re going to race. I just can’t promise anyone exactly where right now.”