Norwalk: Rod Fuller preview

"I'm excited to race at Norwalk. I've never been there. My family has raced there and I've heard about the great tradition and how passionate the fans are. The town really supports the event. I hear the facility is a good, fast track, so it should ...

"I'm excited to race at Norwalk. I've never been there. My family has raced there and I've heard about the great tradition and how

passionate the fans are. The town really supports the event. I hear the facility is a good, fast track, so it should be exciting for everyone

involved. I had never raced at Englishtown (N.J.) until last year and won my first time there. Hopefully we can do that at Norwalk. The weather forecast is calling for cool temperatures and that benefits our team."

Fuller Norwalk Notebook

Last weekend in Englishtown, N.J., Fuller qualified second for the fifth time this season with a 4.479-second elapsed time. He advanced to the quarterfinals when an ignition malfunction ended his day.

Fuller enters the Norwalk race atop the NHRA Top Fuel standings. He leads two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon by 35 points. Fuller has one victory (Phoenix) in two final-round appearances this season. He has led the points standings following seven of 10 races in 2007.

Fuller has claimed two poles this season, Atlanta and St. Louis. He has four career pole awards. He has an average starting position of 2.2.

Fuller has advanced to at least the semifinals at six of 10 races this season.

Only three drivers, Fuller, Pro Stock's Greg Anderson and Pro Stock Motorcycle's Angelle Sampey have qualified fourth or better at each race this season. The lowest Fuller has qualified was fourth at Topeka.

Fuller has recorded both a career-best elapsed time (4.464 seconds) and speed (331.61 mph) this season.

Fuller has clocked 10 4.4-second passes this year.

Fuller will be behind the wheel of his all-white dragster this weekend at Norwalk. He has 3-4 round record in the plain white rail. He drove it to the No. 1 qualifying position at Atlanta in May.

Last year at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Fuller qualified third with a 4.516-second E.T. He was defeated in the quarterfinals by Larry Dixon.