<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/Valvolinefuller.jpg" alt="Valvolinefuller" align="right"borders="0"/>
“Everything is looking good for us coming off the win in Phoenix. The pressure is still there because we don’t have a primary sponsor after the Gainesville race. We’re excited that Valvoline stepped up for another race. With not having the sponsor, there’s some extra pressure to do well. We want to let people know that it’s not a fluke that we’re in the points lead. Rob Flynn can tune with the best of them. We want to show up to a track where we haven’t had much luck in the past and do well this time around and keep that points lead going into Houston.”
Fuller Gatornationals Notebook
Last season, Fuller qualified in the No. 8 position at the Gatornationals with a 4.601-second elapsed time. He was defeated in the opening round by 29-time NHRA winner Cory McClenathan.
In three tries at the historic Gainesville track, Fuller has yet to win a round. It is one of three tracks, along with Bandimere Speedway and Heartland Park Topeka, where the four-time NHRA winner has not won a round of Top Fuel competition.
Three weeks ago, Fuller carded his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory. In a repeat of the ‘06 Phoenix final, Fuller bested Melanie Troxel in the final round 4.490 to 4.536. Fuller clocked four runs in the 4.4-second range at the Phoenix race. It marks the first time that he has led the NHRA Top Fuel standings.
Fuller set both of his personal-bests at the Phoenix race. He blistered the Firebird Raceway quarter mile at 331.61 mph during qualifying and clocked a stout 4.466-second E.T. in the first round of eliminations.
Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at five of the last six NHRA races with one victory and two runner-up finishes.
Fuller made his NHRA national event debut at the 1992 Gatornationals in Super Comp. He advanced to the semifinals before bowing out to five-time NHRA sportsmen champ Scotty Richardson.
Fuller on Gainesville…
The Gatornationals: “Awesome fans”
Gainesville Raceway: “Humidity”
Favorite local restaurant: “The Ale House”
Favorite Gainesville memory: Racing Connie Kalitta in 1996”
Favorite activity while at Gainesville: “Checking out the college life”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (1) 194 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein 151 -43
3. J.R. Todd (1) 147 -47
4. WHIT BAZEMORE 127 -67
5. Melanie Troxel 126 -68
6. Tony Schumacher 116 -78
7. Dave Grubnic 104 -90
8. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 89 -105
9. Doug Kalitta 86 -108
10. Cory McClenathan 84 -110
Rod Fuller’s Career Results at Gainesville Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1996 No. 13 1st round—Connie Kalitta
2006 No. 13 1st round—Tony Schumacher
2007 No. 8 1st round—Cory McClenathan
Fuller’s Gainesville Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., March 16, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Gainesville Raceway
Sat., March 17, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Gainesville Raceway
Sun., March 18, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Gainesville Raceway
Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.466 seconds Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
MPH—331.61 MPH Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
E.T.—4.601 seconds Gainesville, Fla. March 2006
MPH—322.46 MPH Gainesville, Fla. March 2006
ACDelco Gatornationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sun., March 18, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., March 18, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., March 18, 5-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
The Fuller Times
38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals
March 15-18, 2007
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
March 15-18, 2007
Gainesville Raceway
Gainesville, Fla.
“Everything is looking good for us coming off the win in Phoenix. The pressure is still there because we don’t have a primary sponsor after the Gainesville race. We’re excited that Valvoline stepped up for another race. With not having the sponsor, there’s some extra pressure to do well. We want to let people know that it’s not a fluke that we’re in the points lead. Rob Flynn can tune with the best of them. We want to show up to a track where we haven’t had much luck in the past and do well this time around and keep that points lead going into Houston.”
Fuller Gatornationals Notebook
Last season, Fuller qualified in the No. 8 position at the Gatornationals with a 4.601-second elapsed time. He was defeated in the opening round by 29-time NHRA winner Cory McClenathan.
In three tries at the historic Gainesville track, Fuller has yet to win a round. It is one of three tracks, along with Bandimere Speedway and Heartland Park Topeka, where the four-time NHRA winner has not won a round of Top Fuel competition.
Three weeks ago, Fuller carded his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory. In a repeat of the ‘06 Phoenix final, Fuller bested Melanie Troxel in the final round 4.490 to 4.536. Fuller clocked four runs in the 4.4-second range at the Phoenix race. It marks the first time that he has led the NHRA Top Fuel standings.
Fuller set both of his personal-bests at the Phoenix race. He blistered the Firebird Raceway quarter mile at 331.61 mph during qualifying and clocked a stout 4.466-second E.T. in the first round of eliminations.
Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at five of the last six NHRA races with one victory and two runner-up finishes.
Fuller made his NHRA national event debut at the 1992 Gatornationals in Super Comp. He advanced to the semifinals before bowing out to five-time NHRA sportsmen champ Scotty Richardson.
Fuller on Gainesville…
The Gatornationals: “Awesome fans”
Gainesville Raceway: “Humidity”
Favorite local restaurant: “The Ale House”
Favorite Gainesville memory: Racing Connie Kalitta in 1996”
Favorite activity while at Gainesville: “Checking out the college life”
2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (1) 194 - - - -
2. Brandon Bernstein 151 -43
3. J.R. Todd (1) 147 -47
4. WHIT BAZEMORE 127 -67
5. Melanie Troxel 126 -68
6. Tony Schumacher 116 -78
7. Dave Grubnic 104 -90
8. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 89 -105
9. Doug Kalitta 86 -108
10. Cory McClenathan 84 -110
Rod Fuller’s Career Results at Gainesville Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1996 No. 13 1st round—Connie Kalitta
2006 No. 13 1st round—Tony Schumacher
2007 No. 8 1st round—Cory McClenathan
Fuller’s Gainesville Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Fri., March 16, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Gainesville Raceway
Sat., March 17, 1/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Gainesville Raceway
Sun., March 18, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Gainesville Raceway
Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.466 seconds Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
MPH—331.61 MPH Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
E.T.—4.601 seconds Gainesville, Fla. March 2006
MPH—322.46 MPH Gainesville, Fla. March 2006
ACDelco Gatornationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sun., March 18, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., March 18, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., March 18, 5-7 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage
