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BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 11, 2007) – Rod Fuller qualified his David Powers-owned dragster in the top half of the field for the 15th time in 16 races this season Saturday at Brainerd International Raceway. The five-time NHRA Top Fuel winner used a 4.605-second elapsed time to earn the No. 7 qualifying position at B.I.R.
After earning the provisional pole on Friday evening with a 4.607-second elapsed time, Fuller slightly bettered his number on Saturday’s first attempt. He drove his all-white David Powers-owned dragster to a run of 4.605 seconds at 322.58 mph. That positioned him seventh in the 16-car order. The “Great White” overpowered the hot B.I.R. quarter mile on its final qualifying attempt as Fuller coasted to a run of 7.064 seconds. It is the first time that Fuller has qualified seventh this season and just the second time in 16 races that he qualified lower than fourth (14th at Seattle).
“We were trying some stuff this weekend,” Fuller said. “We learned a lot of stuff. We missed the one run we need to run good at, on Saturday morning. Then we pushed it too hard on the last run and just overpowered the track. That showed how awesome Brandon Bernstein’s 4.55 was on that last run. We’re ready for race day. I have a lot of confidence in my race team. I want to earn enough points to seal the No. 1 spot up this weekend.”
Fuller will face off against No. 10 qualifier Clay Millican when final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday at B.I.R. Fuller is 6-2 in his career against the six-time IHRA champion. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.
Q1 6.501 ET, 117.47 MPH No. 13
Q2 4.607 ET, 324.83 MPH No. 1
Q3 4.605 ET, 322.58 MPH No. 7
Q4 7.064 ET, 109.97 MPH No. 7
Brainerd No. 1 Qualifiers
Top Fuel: Tony Schumacher
Funny Car: Mike Ashley
Pro Stock: Jason Line
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Chip Ellis
POINTS-LEADER FULLER FINISHES SEVENTH AT BRAINERD
BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 11, 2007) – Rod Fuller qualified his David Powers-owned dragster in the top half of the field for the 15th time in 16 races this season Saturday at Brainerd International Raceway. The five-time NHRA Top Fuel winner used a 4.605-second elapsed time to earn the No. 7 qualifying position at B.I.R.
After earning the provisional pole on Friday evening with a 4.607-second elapsed time, Fuller slightly bettered his number on Saturday’s first attempt. He drove his all-white David Powers-owned dragster to a run of 4.605 seconds at 322.58 mph. That positioned him seventh in the 16-car order. The “Great White” overpowered the hot B.I.R. quarter mile on its final qualifying attempt as Fuller coasted to a run of 7.064 seconds. It is the first time that Fuller has qualified seventh this season and just the second time in 16 races that he qualified lower than fourth (14th at Seattle).
“We were trying some stuff this weekend,” Fuller said. “We learned a lot of stuff. We missed the one run we need to run good at, on Saturday morning. Then we pushed it too hard on the last run and just overpowered the track. That showed how awesome Brandon Bernstein’s 4.55 was on that last run. We’re ready for race day. I have a lot of confidence in my race team. I want to earn enough points to seal the No. 1 spot up this weekend.”
Fuller will face off against No. 10 qualifier Clay Millican when final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday at B.I.R. Fuller is 6-2 in his career against the six-time IHRA champion. ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.
Q1 6.501 ET, 117.47 MPH No. 13
Q2 4.607 ET, 324.83 MPH No. 1
Q3 4.605 ET, 322.58 MPH No. 7
Q4 7.064 ET, 109.97 MPH No. 7
Brainerd No. 1 Qualifiers
Top Fuel: Tony Schumacher
Funny Car: Mike Ashley
Pro Stock: Jason Line
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Chip Ellis
