Rod Fuller Gainesville NHRA Advance

Rod Fuller Gainesville NHRA Advance

Mar 13, 2007

“Everything is looking good for us coming off the win in Phoenix. The pressure is still there because we don’t have a primary sponsor after the Gainesville race. We’re excited that Valvoline stepped up for another race. With not having the sponsor, there’s some extra pressure to do well. We want to let people know that it’s not a fluke that we’re in the points lead. Rob Flynn can tune with the best of them. We want to show up to a track where we haven’t had much luck in the past and do well this time around and keep that points lead going into Houston. ”

Fuller Gatornationals Notebook

Last season, Fuller qualified in the No. 8 position at the Gatornationals with a 4.601-second elapsed time. He was defeated in the opening round by 29-time NHRA winner Cory McClenathan.

In three tries at the historic Gainesville track, Fuller has yet to win a round. It is one of three tracks, along with Bandimere Speedway and Heartland Park Topeka, where the four-time NHRA winner has not won a round of Top Fuel competition.

Three weeks ago, Fuller carded his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory. In a repeat of the ‘06 Phoenix final, Fuller bested Melanie Troxel in the final round 4.490 to 4.536. Fuller clocked four runs in the 4.4-second range at the Phoenix race. It marks the first time that he has led the NHRA Top Fuel standings.

Fuller set both of his personal-bests at the Phoenix race. He blistered the Firebird Raceway quarter mile at 331.61 mph during qualifying and clocked a stout 4.466-second E. T. in the first round of eliminations.

Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at five of the last six NHRA races with one victory and two runner-up finishes.

Fuller made his NHRA national event debut at the 1992 Gatornationals in Super Comp. He advanced to the semifinals before bowing out to five-time NHRA sportsmen champ Scotty Richardson.

Fuller on Gainesville…

The Gatornationals: “Awesome fans”

Gainesville Raceway: “Humidity”

Favorite local restaurant: “The Ale House”

Favorite Gainesville memory: Racing Connie Kalitta in 1996”

Favorite activity while at Gainesville: “Checking out the college life”