FULLER QUALIFIES FOURTH AT TOPEKA

TOPEKA, Kan. (June 2, 2007) – Rod Fuller, the current NHRA points leader, will start from his lowest qualifying position this season, fourth. After qualifying third or better at the first seven races of the season, the four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner will race out of the No. 4 position after using a solid 4.566-second elapsed time to record the fourth quickest time in qualifying at Topeka . Fuller had earned the pole at the previous two races, Atlanta and St. Louis .

The Arkansas native made two solid attempts during qualifying to earn the No. 4 qualifying position at Heartland Park . With Rob Flynn calling the shots on his un-sponsored, all-white dragster, Fuller powered to a run of 4.566 seconds at 321.42 mph on Friday afternoon at the Kansas track. The Las Vegas resident then blistered the Heartland Park quarter mile in 4.575 at 324.41 mph to record the quickest and fastest lap of the day on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the Sunflower State . Fuller now has an average starting spot of 2.25 this season as he looks to earn his first career round win at Heartland Park on Sunday.

“What else can you ask for, we made a conservative run on Friday to make sure we were qualified and came back on Saturday and showed how good we can be,” Fuller said. “I don’t consider the No. 4 qualifier a let down. We raced smart this weekend. I’m looking to go out there and win the race. We need four consistent rounds and want to keep ourselves in the points lead for all these potential sponsors that we’re working with.”

Fuller will battle No. 13 qualifier and perennial championship contender Doug Kalitta in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations which begin at 11 a.m. (CT) at Heartland Park . ESPN2 will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage from the O’Reilly Summer Nationals from 4-7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

Q1 4.566 ET, 321.42 MPH No. 4
Q2 canceled rain
Q3 6.439 ET, 123.04 MPH No. 4
Q4 4.575 ET, 324.41 MPH No. 4