Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller Ready to Race Again

After getting his fill of well-deserved praise, Fuller ready to race
again

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 14) -- Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller
couldn't have picked a better time to win his second race of his brief
NHRA Pro career. By capturing the crown of the CSK Nationals on Feb. 26
in Phoenix, the driver of David Powers' Valvoline dragster has been able
to revel in the win for three full weeks -- the longest stretch of time
between races on the '06 schedule.

 

"It's been an awesome break," Fuller said from his Las Vegas home. "It
really happened at a perfect time for me because the NASCAR race was in
town last weekend and all of our sponsors were there. Everyone was so
happy for us and I got to share in the celebration of our team's win
over and over throughout the weekend.

 

"Then we went down to the garage and pit area and all the crew chiefs
and drivers down there came over to congratulate me. It's really cool
when Ray Evernham stops and tells you 'good job.' That blew me away. It
turns out those guys watch drag racing just like we watch NASCAR races.
They were kidding me about beating a girl (Melanie Troxel) in the
finals."

 

Like the rest of the NHRA nitro-powered racers, Fuller and crew chief
Lee Beard will switch to a new Goodyear tire in Gainesville. The tire is
one they tested with in the off-season and again after their win in
Phoenix so the team feels confident in making the mandated switch to new
rubber.

 

"We did great with it," Fuller said. "In fact, the last pass we made the
Tuesday after Phoenix, our incremental numbers were better than anything
we ran during the race. Lee thinks it will be better and safer in the
long run. You just have to be more aggressive with it down low to get it
going."

 

Fuller enters the first east coast race of the season a career-best
second in the POWERade championship points chase. He trails Melanie
Troxel by just 14 points, a deficit that can be erased in one round on
Sunday.

 

"We're confident in what we can do and I think the rest of the class
knows what we're all about as well," Fuller said. "I've enjoyed every
minute of this long break but I'm happy to get back after it now. We're
ready to race."