THE FORGETTABLE FULLER?
Mon, 2008-05-05 12:29
No one could forget the hot streak Hot Rod Fuller was on this time last year. This season
has been a different story.
In fact, the pre-race emcee at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., forgot him during the traditional pre-race introductions Sunday morning. Fuller ensured the announcer wouldn’t forget him in the winner’s circle.
“It was weird,” Fuller said of the experience. “I was about to go through the door and they stopped me and pulled me back. They told me he forgot me. It was an honest mistake, so I figured the best way to make them remember me was to win.”
Make no mistake, Fuller still has a chip on his shoulder after winning five races during the first phase of the Countdown to the Championship and then losing the points from them when the totals reset at Indianapolis. He lost a substantial lead and despite battling back into the lead during the final portion of the Chase, he lost the title during the final run of the season. No one could forget the hot streak Hot Rod Fuller was on this time last year. This season
has been a different story.
In fact, the pre-race emcee at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., forgot him during the traditional pre-race introductions Sunday morning. Fuller ensured the announcer wouldn’t forget him in the winner’s circle.
“It was weird,” Fuller said of the experience. “I was about to go through the door and they stopped me and pulled me back. They told me he forgot me. It was an honest mistake, so I figured the best way to make them remember me was to win.”
Make no mistake, Fuller still has a chip on his shoulder after winning five races during the first phase of the Countdown to the Championship and then losing the points from them when the totals reset at Indianapolis. He lost a substantial lead and despite battling back into the lead during the final portion of the Chase, he lost the title during the final run of the season.
“There’s a high level of gratification when you can beat him,” Fuller said of his ongoing rivalry with Tony Schumacher, the beneficiary of those rules.
So heated is the rivalry becoming between himself and Schumacher that he referred to the final round match as the Dark Side versus the Good Side.
“I’ll let you figure out which is which,” Fuller said with a laugh. “I watched the NASCAR race last night and the fans want to see rivalries like that. People want to see some roughing up. We can’t bump fenders, but at least I can ruffle his feathers a little.”
Fuller’s final round represented the third consecutive final round for David Powers Motorsports. Rookie teammate Antron Brown won the previous two races.
Fuller pointed out seeing Brown’s success has made him happy.
“I take a lot of pride in his success and we are a lot closer than people think,” Fuller said. “He gives me a lot of compliments in letting me know things I’ve helped him with. I have helped him and it’s almost like we are brothers. It’s like watching my little brother [sportsman racer] Tony race. If I can’t win, I want him to.
“A lot of people always ask me if I get upset when he wins and I don’t, and I always tell them that this sport is like a merry-go-round in that you just have to wait for your turn to get on. Today happened to be my day to get on that merry-go-round. Nothing is wrong with out team and drag racing is a lot of luck.
“We also learned that it doesn’t mean as much to lead the points all year long. At the end it all goes away and it’s a big letdown to get all those points taken away like we did last year. I told my guys I did care if I was in the two, three, four or five spot this year.”
EMOTIONAL WEEKEND – The triumphant weekend had special meaning for two reasons as far as Fuller was concerned.
A lesser known fact is Fuller’s opportunity to drive came after Darrell Russell lost his life during a racing accident during the 2004 NHRA Midwest Nationals.
The Russell Family had planned to join forces with David Powers to field a Top Fuel program.
“Darrell had dreamed of having his own Top Fuel team one day,” Fuller said. “They hired me and they probably did that because Darrell was a sportsman racer and they wanted to stay within the sportsman ranks. This was an honor to get the call and be able to represent them.”
Fuller pointed out he believes that a lot of people have forgotten that story. He cannot.
“This trophy is going to Chris Russell,” Fuller added. “What an honor to do that on a weekend where Darrell was remembered. I had to fight back the tears because it meant a lot to me.”
Fuller said extra motivation came with his mom [Cathy] being in attendance. He added that she’s been in bad health recently.
“She’s been battling health issues and she’s never seen me win Top Fuel before,” Fuller said. “She was at the finish line when I got out of the car. It’s not about the money and it’s not about the feeling when I got out of the car and she had tears in her eyes. I just had to hug her.
“If it wasn’t for my mom and dad and their sacrifices, I couldn’t be out here racing. Those other wins were great, but to win with her and dad here means more. I feel blessed all the way around.”
The victory marked his first since signing Caterpillar as the major sponsor for the team.
Hot Rod Fuller was forgotten in pre-race driver introductions.
In fact, the pre-race emcee at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., forgot him during the traditional pre-race introductions Sunday morning. Fuller ensured the announcer wouldn’t forget him in the winner’s circle.
“It was weird,” Fuller said of the experience. “I was about to go through the door and they stopped me and pulled me back. They told me he forgot me. It was an honest mistake, so I figured the best way to make them remember me was to win.”
Make no mistake, Fuller still has a chip on his shoulder after winning five races during the first phase of the Countdown to the Championship and then losing the points from them when the totals reset at Indianapolis. He lost a substantial lead and despite battling back into the lead during the final portion of the Chase, he lost the title during the final run of the season. No one could forget the hot streak Hot Rod Fuller was on this time last year. This season
Hot Rod Fuller was forgotten in pre-race driver introductions. (Roger Richards)
In fact, the pre-race emcee at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis, Mo., forgot him during the traditional pre-race introductions Sunday morning. Fuller ensured the announcer wouldn’t forget him in the winner’s circle.
“It was weird,” Fuller said of the experience. “I was about to go through the door and they stopped me and pulled me back. They told me he forgot me. It was an honest mistake, so I figured the best way to make them remember me was to win.”
Make no mistake, Fuller still has a chip on his shoulder after winning five races during the first phase of the Countdown to the Championship and then losing the points from them when the totals reset at Indianapolis. He lost a substantial lead and despite battling back into the lead during the final portion of the Chase, he lost the title during the final run of the season.
“There’s a high level of gratification when you can beat him,” Fuller said of his ongoing rivalry with Tony Schumacher, the beneficiary of those rules.
So heated is the rivalry becoming between himself and Schumacher that he referred to the final round match as the Dark Side versus the Good Side.
“I’ll let you figure out which is which,” Fuller said with a laugh. “I watched the NASCAR race last night and the fans want to see rivalries like that. People want to see some roughing up. We can’t bump fenders, but at least I can ruffle his feathers a little.”
Fuller’s final round represented the third consecutive final round for David Powers Motorsports. Rookie teammate Antron Brown won the previous two races.
Fuller pointed out seeing Brown’s success has made him happy.
“I take a lot of pride in his success and we are a lot closer than people think,” Fuller said. “He gives me a lot of compliments in letting me know things I’ve helped him with. I have helped him and it’s almost like we are brothers. It’s like watching my little brother [sportsman racer] Tony race. If I can’t win, I want him to.
“A lot of people always ask me if I get upset when he wins and I don’t, and I always tell them that this sport is like a merry-go-round in that you just have to wait for your turn to get on. Today happened to be my day to get on that merry-go-round. Nothing is wrong with out team and drag racing is a lot of luck.
“We also learned that it doesn’t mean as much to lead the points all year long. At the end it all goes away and it’s a big letdown to get all those points taken away like we did last year. I told my guys I did care if I was in the two, three, four or five spot this year.”
EMOTIONAL WEEKEND – The triumphant weekend had special meaning for two reasons as far as Fuller was concerned.
A lesser known fact is Fuller’s opportunity to drive came after Darrell Russell lost his life during a racing accident during the 2004 NHRA Midwest Nationals.
The Russell Family had planned to join forces with David Powers to field a Top Fuel program.
“Darrell had dreamed of having his own Top Fuel team one day,” Fuller said. “They hired me and they probably did that because Darrell was a sportsman racer and they wanted to stay within the sportsman ranks. This was an honor to get the call and be able to represent them.”
Fuller pointed out he believes that a lot of people have forgotten that story. He cannot.
“This trophy is going to Chris Russell,” Fuller added. “What an honor to do that on a weekend where Darrell was remembered. I had to fight back the tears because it meant a lot to me.”
Fuller said extra motivation came with his mom [Cathy] being in attendance. He added that she’s been in bad health recently.
“She’s been battling health issues and she’s never seen me win Top Fuel before,” Fuller said. “She was at the finish line when I got out of the car. It’s not about the money and it’s not about the feeling when I got out of the car and she had tears in her eyes. I just had to hug her.
“If it wasn’t for my mom and dad and their sacrifices, I couldn’t be out here racing. Those other wins were great, but to win with her and dad here means more. I feel blessed all the way around.”
The victory marked his first since signing Caterpillar as the major sponsor for the team.
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