The Fuller Times

24th annual Checker Schuck’s Kragen Nationals
February 22-24, 2008
Firebird International Raceway
Chandler, Ariz.

Rod Fuller on Phoenix
“To me, Phoenix is the promise land. The last three times I’ve raced there we’ve won, so we have a great streak going on. Arizona is like a second home. We did really good in testing and we have a good combination for that race track. I’m very excited going into Phoenix .”

Rob Flynn (crew chief) on Phoenix
“Based on Pomona , we feel like we have a really good car. We just need to make more runs to prove that. We want to qualify better and we were trying to do that in the fourth session (at Pomona ) and we dropped a cylinder because the same setup ran low E.T. of the meet the next morning. Also the fact that we tested well at Phoenix allows us to be optimistic.”

Fuller Phoenix Notebook
Fuller qualified 10th at the season-opening Winternationals two weeks ago with a time of 4.539 seconds. He advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to two-time champion Larry Dixon. Fuller clocked low elapsed time of the event at 4.494 seconds in the first round. It was the sixth low E.T. of the meet for Fuller.

Last February, Fuller qualified his Valvoline dragster second at the CSK Nationals with a run of 4.471 seconds, 331.61 mph. He raced to his fourth career victory by knocking off Melanie Troxel in the final round for the second consecutive year. Fuller clocked three 4.4-second elapsed times during final eliminations. Fuller’s 331.61 mph speed remains the fastest of his career.

Fuller drove his Rob Flynn-tuned rail to a career-best second place finish last season. He collected three wins in six final rounds, four poles, four low E.T. of the race, one top speed of the race, and won the $100,000 Technicoat Shootout at the fall Las Vegas race. He also won a category-best 40 rounds of eliminations, three more than B. Bernstein.

Fuller clocked the quickest pass of 2008 preseason testing on Jan. 29 with a run of 4.468 seconds at 331.36 mph at Firebird International Raceway.

Fuller has qualified for 63 consecutive NHRA Top Fuel events. He hasn’t missed the cut since driving Top Fuel part time in 1996 ( Houston ). It is the second longest streak in Top Fuel (Tony Schumacher).

Fuller claimed the CSK Nationals Super Gas title in 2004 when he defeated Glen Smith in the final round. He has 13 career NHRA sportsmen victories in the Super Gas and Super Comp categories. Fuller has won 15 consecutive rounds of competition at F.I.R.

2008 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. Tony Schumacher (1) 116 - - -
2. Cory McClenathan 93 -23
3. Larry Dixon 77 -39
4. Morgan Lucas 75 -41
5. ANTRON BROWN 58 -58
6. Hillary Will 54 -62
7. ROD FULLER 52 -64
Doug Herbert 52 -64
9. Alan Bradshaw 34 -82
10. David Grubnic 33 -83

Rod Fuller’s Career Results at Firebird International Raceway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
1996 DNQ
2006 No. 4 WINNER—def. Melanie Troxel
2007 No. 2 WINNER—def. Melanie Troxel

Fuller’s CSK Nationals Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Tues., Feb. 19, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Caterpillar— Tinaja Hills Training Center
Wed., Feb. 20, Noon NHRA Media Luncheon—Morton’s
Thur., Feb. 21, 5-9 p.m. NHRA Happy Hour—Gila River Casino
Fri., Feb. 22, 2/4:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, Firebird Int’l Raceway
Sat., Feb. 23, 12:30/3 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, Firebird Int’l Raceway
Sun., Feb. 24, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, Firebird Int’l Raceway

Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.464 seconds Joliet , Ill. June 2007
MPH—331.61 mph Chandler , Ariz. Feb. 2007

Fuller’s Career-Best at Phoenix
E.T.—4.466 seconds Chandler , Ariz. Feb. 2007
MPH—331.61 mph Chandler , Ariz. Feb. 2007


CSK Nationals TV Schedule (ESPN2)
Date & Time (ET) Coverage
Sun., Feb. 24, 2-3:30 a.m. Qualifying Highlights
Sun., Feb. 24, 7-10 p.m. Final Eliminations Coverage