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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Aug. 20) -- It was suppose to be his first repeat win but Top Fuel favorite "Hot Rod" Fuller was bitten by a mechanical gremlin in the first round Sunday at the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals.
After his second No. 1 qualifier title of the season, Fuller, driving the David Powers Homes/Valvoline rail, had to clamber out of the driver's compartment at the starting line when crew chef Lee Beard gave the signal to silence the car's 8,000 horsepower powerplant.
"Sometimes it just not your day," Beard said. "We've got the best crew and the best team owner on the NHRA tour but despite having all of the elements it takes to be a POWERade champion it all comes down to having everything come together at the same time. Today just wasn't our day"
A leaking valve cover sent oil over the header pipes and onto the track, canceling what was hoped to be a pass that would propel the Valvoline machine into the second round of final eliminations.
"To say we're disappointed is an understatement," Fuller said. "I've been working on bettering my reaction times and I was hoping to use those newfound skills at the starting line today. I guess it wasn't meant to be. And no, it's not a jinx to be the No. 1 qualifier; we just had some bad luck."
Because of the malfunction, Fuller's first round opponent, Bob Vandergriff Jr., was sent down the Memphis Motorsports Park quarter mile unopposed.
Next stop on the NHRA POWERade drag racing tour is the Mac Tools U.S. nationals in two weeks.
Fuller maintains, 'It's not a jinx'
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Aug. 20) -- It was suppose to be his first repeat win but Top Fuel favorite "Hot Rod" Fuller was bitten by a mechanical gremlin in the first round Sunday at the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals.
After his second No. 1 qualifier title of the season, Fuller, driving the David Powers Homes/Valvoline rail, had to clamber out of the driver's compartment at the starting line when crew chef Lee Beard gave the signal to silence the car's 8,000 horsepower powerplant.
"Sometimes it just not your day," Beard said. "We've got the best crew and the best team owner on the NHRA tour but despite having all of the elements it takes to be a POWERade champion it all comes down to having everything come together at the same time. Today just wasn't our day"
A leaking valve cover sent oil over the header pipes and onto the track, canceling what was hoped to be a pass that would propel the Valvoline machine into the second round of final eliminations.
"To say we're disappointed is an understatement," Fuller said. "I've been working on bettering my reaction times and I was hoping to use those newfound skills at the starting line today. I guess it wasn't meant to be. And no, it's not a jinx to be the No. 1 qualifier; we just had some bad luck."
Because of the malfunction, Fuller's first round opponent, Bob Vandergriff Jr., was sent down the Memphis Motorsports Park quarter mile unopposed.
Next stop on the NHRA POWERade drag racing tour is the Mac Tools U.S. nationals in two weeks.
