After Hillary won one of her rounds, she was being interviewed and they had Shirley on the phone. After she hung up, Hillary was asked and said it didn't really matter what Shirley thought of her. A little tacky if you ask me, the comments coming from one of the legends of our sport and being a woman who helped pave the way for fellow female racers past and present, you would think there would be a little more respect about what Shirley thought of you.
Nitromater
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Fuller "dark side" comment
- Thread starter fatcat
- Start date
After Hillary won one of her rounds, she was being interviewed and they had Shirley on the phone. After she hung up, Hillary was asked and said it didn't really matter what Shirley thought of her. A little tacky if you ask me, the comments coming from one of the legends of our sport and being a woman who helped pave the way for fellow female racers past and present, you would think there would be a little more respect about what Shirley thought of you.
Nick
Nitro Member
Look at the replay, Hillary did not say that, she said, "I'm not sure how she (Shirley) feels about me....." Big difference.
Just my observation. Not looking to tick anyone off.
Terry
Nitro Member
Jared, I'm not totally sure on this, but I believe Hillary's reply was more like "I'm not sure what Shirley thinks of me" not "I don't care what Shirley thinks" I think it was possibly a reference to Hillary being unsure where she stood with Shirley since she is still with Kalitta/KB and Shirley has broken ties with the group--I could be wrong, but that was my impression, and I saw no disrespect in Hillary's response
StockersRock
Nitro Member
I'm finding Fuller more and more irritating. He can call DSR "the dark side" all he wants, but they've got five #1's on their wing. His team is the one that didn't get out of round one last year at Pomona, thus giving the Army team the chance to do what we all know what they can do. I think he needs to walk the walk before he talks the talk.
Bobby Bennett
Nitro Member
Drag Racing Internet Magazine - Torco Racing Fuel's Competition Plus.com - THE FORGETTABLE FULLER?
He's just ruffling feathers, at least that's what he told me.
He's just ruffling feathers, at least that's what he told me.
Horsepower & Heels
Nitro Member
Sounds like all in good fun to me! A little personality goes a long way! Some interviews are just too dry!
mick
Nitro Member
just in good fun i agree..........but.....
for as often as the Army TF'er is victorious in races
and championships, i think Tony S. does a fantastic job as a spokeperson
for their sponsor; in the pits, on TV and i'm sure other venues i'm not
aware of......theirs is a sponsor now in it's 8th full year.
AJ makes the decisions that put them on top repeatedly, but Tony is
the Army's image the fans walk away with.
i hope CAT will enjoy similar longevity with DPM.
for as often as the Army TF'er is victorious in races
and championships, i think Tony S. does a fantastic job as a spokeperson
for their sponsor; in the pits, on TV and i'm sure other venues i'm not
aware of......theirs is a sponsor now in it's 8th full year.
AJ makes the decisions that put them on top repeatedly, but Tony is
the Army's image the fans walk away with.
i hope CAT will enjoy similar longevity with DPM.
Kelly
Nitro Member
I know I'm gonna get some 'but you are ALL about DSR' replies, but I thought it was funny that Rod was dishin' that kinda comment and they cut to Tony with his 2 kiddos in-tow. Just seemed like awkward timing for rippin' on Tony and the 'dark side'.....then they show the 'human side'.
I sure hope drivers aren't going the reality TV route. You are not suggesting hard on Fullers comments were scripted are you?
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Johnny Mopar
Nitro Member
Mike...I couldn't agree more. The Sarge is always dead-on in his interviews. He's always respectful of our soldiers and their leaders. He's a terrific recruiter for the Army. Tony gives the best interview since Bernstein in his golden days.
I’m not suggesting they were scripted but I believe one of the questions was something like ‘How does it feel to get some revenge after last years final event and losing the championship to Schumacher?’ I believe the same sentiment was eluded to by Paul Page in the build up to the final.
vegasnitro
Nitro Member
Personally, I liked it and I saw nothing wrong with it. You could tell by the tone of his voice there was no malicious intent.
These guys just can't win with some of you. If Fuller had gotten out of the car and said "We really appreciate Tony and that whole team, they are all the best" you people would be on here crying about how everything was too PC and how the sport needs rivalries like the olden days. So Fuller gets out of the car and gives some good-natured ribbing to team DSR and there is a thread on here with people crybabying about how it was unwarranted?!?!?
GIVE ME A BREAK. Can't have it both ways folks ....
These guys just can't win with some of you. If Fuller had gotten out of the car and said "We really appreciate Tony and that whole team, they are all the best" you people would be on here crying about how everything was too PC and how the sport needs rivalries like the olden days. So Fuller gets out of the car and gives some good-natured ribbing to team DSR and there is a thread on here with people crybabying about how it was unwarranted?!?!?
GIVE ME A BREAK. Can't have it both ways folks ....
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Exactly.
I've raced all of the Fullers more than a few times and although they are very competitive, Rod, Tony and Bob are all first class competitors.
Wayne
Nitro Member
Bullard Anderson
Nitro Member
Never understood that when something like this comes around, i.e. the opportunity for a nice verbal/on track rivarly, more ppl don't embrace it. This is good stuff. Sometimes I think we need to take off our $30.00 team Tshirt, or $89.00 replica nhra team jersey, back away from the keyboard and realize we aren't part of the team. I can say this because I've been guilty of it in the past. Do you want honest emotion or do you want "Thanks CAT, David Powers, Rob Flynn and goodnight."
Rivalries are good, I wish more racers would throw a little "stuff" out there when they are being interviewed. The sentences full of sponsor-mentions get really old.
I loved Doug Herbert's comment about his son saying that Tony S. "the sarge" couldn't even carry a sergeants' lunch pail. I have nothing against Tony S., but comments like these sure liven things up in an interview!
I was also impressed when Shawn Gann went off on NHRA about his new cylinder head not being accepted because Suzuki was NOT the official motorcycle of NHRA. ESPN should be aware that guys that are racing for the love of racing, and not bowing to sponsor etiquette, can and will say anything on camera! Jim Head, Larry Morgan and Connie Kalitta come to mind. I wonder if Shawn was invited to the NHRA trailer for a spanking for his comments?
I loved Doug Herbert's comment about his son saying that Tony S. "the sarge" couldn't even carry a sergeants' lunch pail. I have nothing against Tony S., but comments like these sure liven things up in an interview!
I was also impressed when Shawn Gann went off on NHRA about his new cylinder head not being accepted because Suzuki was NOT the official motorcycle of NHRA. ESPN should be aware that guys that are racing for the love of racing, and not bowing to sponsor etiquette, can and will say anything on camera! Jim Head, Larry Morgan and Connie Kalitta come to mind. I wonder if Shawn was invited to the NHRA trailer for a spanking for his comments?
Kris
Nitro Member
It cracked me up. My husband is a huge Star Wars geek (not fan, geek, like he knows more about Star Wars than a grown man should) but he had stepped into the kitchen to work on dinner before the top end interviews so he didn't hear the comment. I told him what Fuller said and in light of his geekdom it was very funny. We had a good laugh together over it.
Personally I was rather pleased to hear Fuller roll with that question about revenge in the way that he did. As a journalist I was like, 'Ooh, that's a money quote. Love it!'
There are often complaints about Gary asking too often 'how do you feel?' so now we get this fairly ballsy question (IMO) that goes out of his typical top end interview formula and we get this great, candid, provocative response.
And I think Bobby Bennett's piece he linked to certainly helped shed a little light on the comment and added some facets to the win that may have been overlooked. I suggest anyone who hasn't clicked on the link to do so.
Personally I was rather pleased to hear Fuller roll with that question about revenge in the way that he did. As a journalist I was like, 'Ooh, that's a money quote. Love it!'
There are often complaints about Gary asking too often 'how do you feel?' so now we get this fairly ballsy question (IMO) that goes out of his typical top end interview formula and we get this great, candid, provocative response.
And I think Bobby Bennett's piece he linked to certainly helped shed a little light on the comment and added some facets to the win that may have been overlooked. I suggest anyone who hasn't clicked on the link to do so.
I agree with you. Another person that comes to mind is Whit Bazemore. He may have irritated people, but he said what he felt and didn't bow to anyone. I had talked to him on several occasions, and he is a very nice guy. I miss him not racing. He had a very real passion, and sometimes that comes across wrong on camera. Remember when Warren Johnson had that 'punk' comment a couple years ago, and that didn't go over so well either? I guess it depends on the person listening how it sounds to them. I always thought Warren was a grumpy guy until I sat next to him at an autograph session in our area many years ago. He was very polite, kind, and very business oriented. He was miffed at the cost of printing and shipping for the driver hand out cards. His reaction to this bit of information that he had just received was just how mine would have been. However, if someone had stuck a camera in his face at that moment and asked about the cost of postage, it probably wouldn't have been well received. This is how he earns his living, and he is dead serious about every aspect of it. Anyway, after sitting next to him for a couple hours that day, I had a new regard for him as a person.
DLB
Nitro Member
Did anyone else catch that?
May I also say - realize that you aren't that person (unless they are posting on here, and most do not). So, it is no sweat off your back. Really.
When they attack your favorite driver, are you going to take it personally? Man, I hope not. I hope your life is not THAT tied up in NHRA Drag Racing. I love it, but I still have my own life. Let Tony and Rod deal with it.
DLB
