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INDIANAPOLIS (August 28) -- Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller isn't trying to be anti-establishment here but his thoughts coming into the 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals aren't exactly toeing the company line.
"I'm really not crazy about this race," Fuller said bluntly.
Sure, the second-year professional who was voted Sportsman Driver of the Decade in the 1990s knows the history of the event. He knows how revered the race is to most NHRA drivers. It's just, well, aside from a pair of runner-up finishes in Super Comp and Super Gas, Indy hasn't shown him any love.
"It's usually very hot there, and when you're a sportsman racer it lasts seven days," Fuller said. "I doubt many people love drag racing as much as I do but seven days at any race wears you out. There is always a lot of 'hurry up and wait' going on. I just want to get on the track and race."
Fuller is hopeful that this year's trip to O'Reilly Raceway Park will change his attitude. Like his peers, he'd love to have an Indy Wally on the mantle and he knows this time through he's got a very good chance of changing his Indy fortunes. Fuller has two wins in three final-round appearances this season in the Valvoline/David Powers Homes dragster and is coming off a No. 1 qualifying effort at the last event in Memphis, Tenn.
"Our car has been running very strong, especially when it's been hot, so we fully expect to be in the mix at Indy," Fuller said. "And I'm not just talking about qualifying; I'm talking about getting ourselves in contention to win the event.
"I'd like to change my attitude towards this race. I bet winning it would be a real good start."
ESPN2 will carry 10 hours of U.S. Nationals coverage. Qualifying highlights will run from 11 p.m.-12 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, and 11 p.m.-1 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 3. There will be two separate shows of race day coverage including a 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m. broadcast, Monday, Sept. 4, and a later 4 p.m.-7 p.m. show, also on Monday, Sept. 4. All times listed are Eastern.
Indy not Fuller's favorite place…yet
INDIANAPOLIS (August 28) -- Top Fuel driver "Hot Rod" Fuller isn't trying to be anti-establishment here but his thoughts coming into the 52nd annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals aren't exactly toeing the company line.
"I'm really not crazy about this race," Fuller said bluntly.
Sure, the second-year professional who was voted Sportsman Driver of the Decade in the 1990s knows the history of the event. He knows how revered the race is to most NHRA drivers. It's just, well, aside from a pair of runner-up finishes in Super Comp and Super Gas, Indy hasn't shown him any love.
"It's usually very hot there, and when you're a sportsman racer it lasts seven days," Fuller said. "I doubt many people love drag racing as much as I do but seven days at any race wears you out. There is always a lot of 'hurry up and wait' going on. I just want to get on the track and race."
Fuller is hopeful that this year's trip to O'Reilly Raceway Park will change his attitude. Like his peers, he'd love to have an Indy Wally on the mantle and he knows this time through he's got a very good chance of changing his Indy fortunes. Fuller has two wins in three final-round appearances this season in the Valvoline/David Powers Homes dragster and is coming off a No. 1 qualifying effort at the last event in Memphis, Tenn.
"Our car has been running very strong, especially when it's been hot, so we fully expect to be in the mix at Indy," Fuller said. "And I'm not just talking about qualifying; I'm talking about getting ourselves in contention to win the event.
"I'd like to change my attitude towards this race. I bet winning it would be a real good start."
ESPN2 will carry 10 hours of U.S. Nationals coverage. Qualifying highlights will run from 11 p.m.-12 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3, and 11 p.m.-1 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 3. There will be two separate shows of race day coverage including a 12 p.m.-2:30 p.m. broadcast, Monday, Sept. 4, and a later 4 p.m.-7 p.m. show, also on Monday, Sept. 4. All times listed are Eastern.
