Brainerd - Fuller - Pre-race 08-07-06

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Fuller to thank Mayo Clinic staff who saved his mother's life

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 5) -- Top Fuel racer and championship contender "Hot
Rod" Fuller is used to racing in Minnesota. Last November, however, he was
frantically racing to Minnesota to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in
Rochester to be at the bedside of his ailing mother Cathy, who suddenly
needed a liver transplant.

 

Fortunately, like many of his previous trips to Brainerd International
Raceway when he raced in Division 5 events in the sportsman categories,
Cathy emerged from her Minnesota visit a winner. Her body accepted the new
liver and her health dramatically improved within days. The miracle workers
at Mayo Clinic had done it again.

 

Now, on the eve of this year's 25th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Rod
returns to the Land of 10,000 Lakes with Cathy at his side, ready to contend
for the title of the 16th event on the 23-race POWERade tour. This time
through he'll be trying to impress a very special group of new fans -- the
medical team that saved his mother's life.

 

"When mom was at Mayo Clinic, she was pestering the staff about turning on
ESPN2 so she could watch me race at the Finals in Pomona," Fuller said.
"When I found out she was so sick, I wanted to leave the race and come to
Minnesota, but she insisted that I stay and race. She's always been a big
supporter of my career, but that went above and beyond anything I could ask
for.

 

"She was definitely on my mind the whole weekend and I talked to the staff
at Mayo Clinic plenty of times. As soon as I was done racing, I was on my
way to see her. The nurses and doctors were awesome. Not only did they save
her life, they kept me up-to-date on everything that was going on and
assured me she was in the best hands possible. It allowed me to focus on
racing so I could do my job.

 

"As mom was recovering, she told all the people there about me and what we
do. She promised them that when the tour came back to Minnesota, she'd have
them all out for a day at the races. Now we get the chance to show them our
appreciation, NHRA-style."

 

Rod could very well show Mayo Clinic staff the winner's circle as his
Valvoline dragster continues to be one of the top cars in the sport's most
recognizable class. With two wins on the season, Rod has to be considered a
favorite for this weekend's race.

 

To support the people that saved his mother's life, Rod will display a
Donate Life decal promoting organ and tissue donation. Fellow Top Fuel racer
David Baca, whose father-in-law Frank Gau also is an organ donor recipient,
will join Rod in supporting donation by displaying a similar sticker on his
Mach 1 Air Services dragster.

 

Nationally there are more than 92,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ
transplant and thousands of individuals are in need of a tissue transplant.
One person can save or enhance up to 60 lives through organ and tissue
donation.  Minnesotans can register online to be an organ and tissue donor
at  <http://www.donatelifemn.org/> www.DonateLifeMN.org; to find out how to
save lives through donation in other states, visit
<http://www.donatelife.net/> www.DonateLife.net.  

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