The Fuller Times

Eighth annual Summitracing.com Nationals
April 12-15, 2007
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas

“I’m coming home as the points leader and that was my goal coming into the season. It’s always cool to come back home, but leading the points is really cool. I’m excited that the Silverton Casino is helping us out. That’s my local place and I’m excited to work with them. My goal is to win this race. We did well last fall. I want to win this race really badly, even more than Indy.”

Fuller Las Vegas Notebook
Fuller, a Las Vegas resident, enters the race atop the POWERade Top Fuel standings. He took the points lead following his victory at the Phoenix race on Feb. 25. He has advanced to the semifinals at two other races, Pomona and Gainesville. At the Phoenix race, Fuller set personal-bests, 4.466 seconds and 331.61 mph.

Last April, Fuller qualified in the No. 9 slot at The Strip with a 4.586-second pass. He was defeated in the opening round of eliminations by Doug Kalitta.

Last fall at The Strip, Fuller drove his dragster to a runner-up finish at the Budweiser Shootout and raced to a semifinal finish at LVMS. He qualified 10th (4.571 seconds) in the 16-car order. He also scored his first round win at his home track by defeating Melanie Troxel in the first round.

Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at six of the last eight races, with one victory (Phoenix 2007) and two runner-up finishes (Dallas and Richmond 2006).

At the last race at Houston, Fuller qualified third (4.533) and was defeated in the opening round of eliminations. It was his first first-round loss since the Memphis race last August.

Fuller on Las Vegas…

The Las Vegas Race:
“Home”

The Strip at LVMS:
“Best facility on the tour”

Favorite local restaurant:
“Twin Creek’s at the Silverton”

Favorite Las Vegas racing memory:
“Beating Tony Schumacher to advance to the finals of the Bud
Shootout”

Favorite activity while at Las Vegas:
“Going to the spa at Green Valley Ranch”

2007 NHRA Top Fuel Standings
1. ROD FULLER (1) 307 - - - -
2. J.R. TodD (2) 291 -16
3. Tony Schumacher (1) 266 -41
4. WHIT BAZEMORE 260 -47
5. Larry Dixon 239 -68
6. David Grubnic 228 -79
7. Melanie Troxel 214 -93
8. Brandon Bernstein 213 -94
9. Doug Kalitta 170 -137
10. Joe Hartley 153 -154

Rod Fuller’s Career Results at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Year Qualified Finish & Winning Driver
2005 No. 4 1st round—Tony Schumacher
2005 No. 5 1st round—John Smith
2006 No. 9 1st round—Doug Kalitta
2006 No. 10 Semifinals—J.R. Todd

Fuller’s Las Vegas Schedule
Date & Time Event and Location
Wed., April 11, Noon NHRA Media Luncheon, Ruth’s Chris
Thurs., April 12, 5-6:30 p.m. Silverton Hotel & Casino
7-8 p.m. ESPN Zone at New York, New York
Fri., April 13, 3:30/6:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 1/2, The Strip at LVMS
Sat., April 14, 12:30/3:30 p.m. TF Qualifying 3/4, The Strip at LVMS
Sun., April 15, 11 a.m. Final Eliminations, The Strip at LVMS

Fuller’s Career-Best Performances
E.T.—4.466 seconds Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
MPH—331.61 MPH Chandler, Ariz. Feb. 2007
E.T.—4.525 seconds Las Vegas Oct. 2005
MPH—327.66 MPH Las Vegas Oct. 2006