LUIGI NOVELLI - TEAM OWNER & DRIVER
He is a veteran from the Chicago area with over 40 years Top Fuel Racing experience. The “ROD FATHER” has accomplished U.D.R.A. Top Fuel Championships in 1977 & 78 while fielding his Top Fuel Nitro Dragster sponsored by the family business. Luigi has been married for 46 plus years and is owner of National Machine Repair. He has 4 children and 9 grandchildren.

BUZZ OLS - CREW CHIEF
Buzz a veteran crew chief has been with the Novelli family since the beginning, building, racing, and tuning Top Fuel Dragsters. Born and raised in Southern Chicago land area, Buzz is a retired technical mechanic from a Chevy dealer. Also, he assists in all General Car Maintenance. He is married with 3 children and has 3 grandchildren.

TRAVIS DROLET – CLUTCH SPECIALIST
Travis joined the team in 1995 after coming on board with Luigi as a machine repair technician. Travis is a long time clutch specialist and assist in general car maintenance. He also drives the teams transport. He is related to the Novelli’s by marriage (Linda Novelli Drolet Luigi Niece) and has 1 child.

STEVE WILLIAMS – CYLINDER HEADS/GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Steve is a long time drag racing fan and is eager to help the team in anyway he can. He is responsible for all aspects of the “right” cylinder head preparation and also builds the short blocks with Luigi and assists with general car maintenance. He is employed by ComCast as a line technician and was quickly given the nickname “CABLE GUY”. He has 3 children & 1 grandchild.

GLEN BRABHAM – CYLINDER HEAD SPECIALIST
Glen is an old member of Luigi Novelli racing and attends only certain select races as his work seclude dictates. He is responsible for all aspects of the “left” cylinder head preparation (he will assist Dominic) and also assists with general car maintenance. Glen work for United Airlines as a maintenance supervisor out of O’Hare Field.

ROBERT CHURCHILL – BOTTOM END SPECIALIST
Bobby is the bottom end specialist and assembles the rods and piston combinations. He mixes the fuel and helps with general car maintenance. He also helps with the blower, clutch & fuel managements systems & the cars tune up. He works as a operating engineer and is married with 1 child.

DONNIE VICKERS – BLOWER AND FUEL MANAGMENT
Donnie “SCELZI SAYS”, who looks like Gary Scelzi, is a long time friend with Buzz Ols. They worked together as technicians at the Chevy dealership for years. Because of his experience, Donnie brings knowledge to many aspects of the race car. His main responsibility is blower and fuel management while assisting with general maintenance. Also, he is an avid go cart racer and works at the Indiana Chevy dealer and has 3 childern.

MIKE KERKHOVEN - BOTTOM END SPECIALIST
Mike has been part of the team since the beginning although he did leave for a couple of years and can now only help with certain races due to family priorities. As a bottom end specialist, he assists Bobby and handles the tire duties. Mike lives in Ohio and works at All-Crane. He has 2 children.

JOEL LATTANZIO – GENERAL ASSISTANCE
Joel AKA “LUIGI’S GOPHER” has been with the team since 2000. He met them at the airport in Topeka after a race in 1999. He assists Luigi with analyzing the computer data to help Luigi and Buzz perfect the cars tune-up. Also, Joel handles the clutch and fuel management systems, assists Travis with the clutch, and clears parts between rounds along with general maintenance. He owns a small lending company and is married with 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

CLIFF BREMNER – GENERAL ASSISTANCE
Cliff is one of the first members of Luigi’s crew when he returned to TOP FUEL RACING in 1996 and stayed for a few years. He assists in general car maintenance and helps with any task at hand. He is a retired MILLWRIGHT and was widowed in early 2007. Also, he competed in the Junior Fuel class in the 60’s and 70’s. Cliff is also an avid Harley rider and decided to return to Fuel racing early in 2007.

DOMINIC PAOLELLA – CYLINDER HEAD SPECIALIST
Dominic joined the team in 2006 but only attended certain races and will now be full time in the 2008 season as his work seclude will allow. He will be responsible for all aspects of the “left cylinder” and its preparation and do general car maintenance. He will also assist Luigi and The cable guy with the building of the short blocks. He works as a machinist by trade, is single and resides in Lowell, Indiana.

BOB UNZICKER – NICK NAME (G.D. BOB)
Bob has been a die hard drag racing fan for years and long time friend of Joel. After 10 years of no contact, the two were reunited after a race in Madison in 2007, when Bob looked on National Machine repairs website and saw Joel was a crew member. Bob will only be attending certain races as his work schedule will allow, he is an operating engineer and that keeps him very busy. When attending races, he will help drive the transport, service the blower and do general car maintenance. Bob is married, lives in Deer Creek, Il. and has 4 children.

KYLE NUEST – BOTTOM END SPECIALIST
Kyle and his family are long time super gas racers known as “THE PIG FARMER” aka Nuest Racing. Kyle and his sister also compete in super comp. He is the bottom end specialist and assembles the rod and pistons combinations. He also attending the University of Northern Ohio and is working toward his bachelor degree in High Performance Technology. He wants to work in the drag racing industry. He now works with his family on their Indiana farm “MAKING BACON”.