IDA ZETTERSTRÖM Trades Championship Focus for Dollar Chase in NHRA Debut Year

April 4, 2025

by Suryanshu Choudhary // from www.essentiallysports.com

• IDA ZETTERSTRÖM made an immediate impact in her NHRA debut season, defeating four-time champion Steve Torrence in her first round and earning “Best New Talent” recognition—all while admitting she’s had to shift focus from chasing championships to chasing the sponsorship dollars that keep her 300+ mph dreams alive. Her candid assessment of prioritizing funding over titles reveals the harsh financial realities even European champions face when crossing the pond.
• Before conquering American hearts, ZETTERSTRÖM silenced European doubters who told her she “didn’t belong” in Super Street Bike, becoming the first woman to win that championship in 2019. She then dominated the 2023 FIA Top Fuel Championship with four wins and record-setting runs of 3.773 seconds at 321 mph, proving that critics suggesting she try “safer” classes with wheelie bars clearly didn’t know what they were talking about.
• The financial strain hits different when you’re used to winning everything—ZETTERSTRÖM won all but one race during her dominant 2023 European season, but now finds herself with only 10 confirmed NHRA races for 2025. Her honest reflection on the mental toll of funding uncertainty shows how even the most talented drivers must balance being racers with being their own business development teams, a reality that keeps dreams on hold regardless of talent level.

denso nhra sonoma nationals, drag racing, fia european championship, nhra top fuel