<img src="http://gallery.nitromater.com/files/6/5/r_fuller06.jpg" alt="r_fuller06" align="right"borders="0"/>
Brainerd, Minn. (8/12/06) -- Valvoline Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller has put himself in the driver's seat for a chance to win the 25th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Sunday after qualifying in the top four with a 4.558-second blast down Brainerd International Raceway's quarter-mile. Fuller saved his best run for last, navigating the surface in the toughest round of time trials.
With a speed of 319.88 mph, Fuller bettered his run from earlier Saturday morning to set up a Sunday showdown with Bob Vandergriff Jr. for the first time this year in the first round of final eliminations.
"We've made some major changes to the chassis since our last run in Sonoma and I think [crew chief] Lee Beard is really on to something," Fuller said. "Beard and the boys are still getting to know the nuances that come with changes like these and there is still a lot more left in the car. Lee gave himself more room to play with the tune-up and it's really paid off. The car is like a rocket."
Beard echoed those sentiments. "We were beginning to feel pretty restricted with our tune-up window the way the car was and to be able to make a run for the championship it was important to give ourselves a little breathing room. It looks as though the time we spent with our chassis builder, Brad Hadman, has paid off."
Fuller and fellow Top Fuel driver David Baca have dedicated this weekend's race to DonateLife.org, an organization that promotes human organ donation. Fuller's mother Cathy and Baca's father-in-law Frank Gau are both recipients of organ transplantation and the two drivers hope to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation.
Fuller enters tomorrow's eliminations sixth in points with a chance to leave the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the elite top five.
Fuller fishes for win, qualifies fourth in the northland
Brainerd, Minn. (8/12/06) -- Valvoline Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller has put himself in the driver's seat for a chance to win the 25th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Sunday after qualifying in the top four with a 4.558-second blast down Brainerd International Raceway's quarter-mile. Fuller saved his best run for last, navigating the surface in the toughest round of time trials.
With a speed of 319.88 mph, Fuller bettered his run from earlier Saturday morning to set up a Sunday showdown with Bob Vandergriff Jr. for the first time this year in the first round of final eliminations.
"We've made some major changes to the chassis since our last run in Sonoma and I think [crew chief] Lee Beard is really on to something," Fuller said. "Beard and the boys are still getting to know the nuances that come with changes like these and there is still a lot more left in the car. Lee gave himself more room to play with the tune-up and it's really paid off. The car is like a rocket."
Beard echoed those sentiments. "We were beginning to feel pretty restricted with our tune-up window the way the car was and to be able to make a run for the championship it was important to give ourselves a little breathing room. It looks as though the time we spent with our chassis builder, Brad Hadman, has paid off."
Fuller and fellow Top Fuel driver David Baca have dedicated this weekend's race to DonateLife.org, an organization that promotes human organ donation. Fuller's mother Cathy and Baca's father-in-law Frank Gau are both recipients of organ transplantation and the two drivers hope to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation.
Fuller enters tomorrow's eliminations sixth in points with a chance to leave the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the elite top five.
