IDA ZETTERSTRÖM Chases Dollars, Not Championships in NHRA Funding Battle

April 3, 2025

by Sumedha Mukherjee // from www.essentiallysports.com

• IDA ZETTERSTRÖM made waves in her NHRA debut season, stunning four-time champion Steve Torrence in the first round and earning ‘Best New Talent’ recognition despite starting six races behind the field. The 2023 European Top Fuel champion relocated from Finland to pursue NHRA glory, but her late-season entry didn’t stop her from reaching the semifinals and qualifying as high as eighth at Texas Fall Nationals.
• The Swedish speedster faces a harsh reality for 2025 – she’s confirmed for only 10 races instead of a full season due to sponsorship shortfalls. Despite partnerships with Edelbrock and VP Racing Fuels, funding gaps force her to focus on “chasing dollars instead of chasing championships,” a mental burden that weighs heavily on the multi-time champion who broke barriers as the first woman to win Super Street Bike in 2019.
• Team owner Joe Maynard remains bullish on IDA’S championship potential, but the financial pressure creates a different racing mindset than her European success. Working with crew chief Jon Schaffer, she believes the team “left a lot on the table” in 2024 and is eager to prove their capabilities with a full off-season of preparation, despite the ongoing sponsorship hunt that dominates her daily focus.

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