Bristol: Rod Fuller preview

The Fuller Times
The pre-race release of four-time NHRA Top Fuel winner Hot Rod Fuller and the David Powers Motorsports Top Fuel team

"If you could pick a race that I'm most excited about going to, it's Bristol. We've been to the final round the past two years and we've only been beaten by one guy, Doug Kalitta. He's been my nemesis. We got him this past weekend at Norwalk and that was big. That gives us a lot of confidence heading into Bristol. We have the best average qualifying position this season and we extended our points lead at Norwalk too. I'm just really excited about Bristol."

Fuller Bristol Notebook

Last weekend in Norwalk, Ohio, the rising Top Fuel star earned his third pole of the season with a track-record 4.533-second E.T. He advanced to his third final round of the season and 11th of his career when he posted a runner-up finish to Tony Schumacher.

Fuller continues to pace the NHRA Top Fuel division. He enters the Bristol race with his largest points lead this season. On the strength of his runner-up finish last weekend at Norwalk, he extended his points lead to 98 over two-time champion Larry Dixon

Last April at Bristol Dragway, Fuller drove his Valvoline dragster to a runner-up finish. He qualified ninth with a run of 4.629 seconds 312.50 mph before advancing to his fifth career final round where he was defeated by Doug Kalitta. It was Fuller's second straight final-round appearance at Bristol Dragway.

Two years ago, he advanced to his first career Top Fuel final round at Bristol Dragway. That August, he earned his first career Top Fuel victory in the Volunteer State by defeating Tony Schumacher at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Fuller has qualified no lower than fourth this season with three pole awards (Atlanta, St. Louis and Norwalk). He has an average starting position of 2.09 this season.

Fuller on Bristol...

Bristol: "The mountains"

Bristol Dragway: Final rounds"

Favorite local restaurant: "Hooter's in Johnson City"

Favorite Bristol Dragway racing memory: "Going to the final round the last two years"

Favorite activity while at Bristol: "Driving on Bristol Motor Speedway"

-credit: dpm