The Fuller Times

22nd annual O’Reilly Fall Nationals
Sept. 20-23
Texas Motorplex
Ennis, Texas

“I’m excited to go back to Dallas . Last year we were in the finals and had a strong race car. The two years we’ve raced there, I’ve been in the semifinals and finals. We’ve had a strong car and seem to do really well there. There are only two more races for the Countdown to Four and I look forward to going to a great track and a track we’ve done well at in the past. Our goal is to get our points lead back and get into the Countdown to Four. “

Fuller Dallas Notebook

Last weekend in Memphis , Fuller qualified eighth at 4.583 seconds at 321.81 mph. He has qualified in the top half of the field at 18 of 19 races this season. Fuller drove to a quarterfinal finish before falling to Doug Foley. It is just his second quarterfinal loss this season.

Fuller enters the third of four races in the Countdown to Four ranked second in the Top Fuel standings. He trails leader Tony Schumacher by 19 points or nearly one round of competition. Under the old points system, Fuller would be in first place by 155 points over Schumacher.

Fuller has two victories ( Phoenix and Denver ) in five final-round
appearances this season. He also has driven his Rob Flynn-tuned dragster to four poles in 2007.

Last Sept., Fuller qualified his Valvoline dragster fourth at Texas Motorplex with a run of 4.554 at 324.28 mph. He drove to a runner-up finish before falling to Brandon Bernstein in the final round. Fuller recorded top speed of the event at 329.42 mph.

Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at 13 of 19 races this year.

Fuller drove to runner-up finishes at Texas Motorplex in Super Comp in 1998 and Super Gas in 1997.

Fuller on Dallas …

Dallas :
“The Grassy Knoll”

Texas Motorplex:
“All-concrete”

Favorite local restaurants:
“III Forks”

Favorite Texas Motorplex racing memory:
“Beating Tony Schumacher in the semifinals last year”

Favorite activity while at Dallas :
“Going to the West End ”

2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings - Countdown To Four

1. Tony Schumacher (5) 2,216 - - -
2. ROD FULLER (2) 2,197 -19
3. Larry Dixon (2) 2,183 -33
4. Brandon Bernstein (5) 2,169 -47
5. Doug Herbert (1) 2,126 -70 -23
6. Bob Vandergriff, Jr. 2,108 -108 -61
7. J.R. Todd (2) 2,092 -112 -77
8. WHIT BAZEMORE 2,075 -141 -94

Rod Fuller’s Career Results at Texas Motorplex
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver

2005 No. 4 Semifinals—Doug Herbert
2006 No. 4 Runner-up—Brandon Bernstein

Fuller’s Dallas Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Thurs., Sept. 20, 5:30 American Airlines Arena
Avalance/Stars NHL Game
Fri., Sept. 21, 4:30/7:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Texas Motorplex
Sat., Sept. 22, Noon/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Texas Motorplex
Sun., Sept. 23, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Texas Motorplex

Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.464 seconds Joliet , Ill. June 2007
MPH—331.61 MPH Chandler , Ariz. Feb. 2007
E.T.—4.493 seconds Ennis , Texas Sept. 2005
MPH—329.42 MPH Ennis , Texas Sept. 2006

O’Reilly Fall Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sun., Sept. 23, 12:30-2 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Sept. 23, 11-11:30 a.m. NHRA Race Day
Sun., Sept. 23, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage