For the past two years, "Hot Rod" Fuller has blown past the rest of his fellow competitors in the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals and landed in the Top Fuel finals at Bristol Dragway.
But when he got to the finals, both times he met up with Doug Kalitta one of Bristol's most successful drivers. Kalitta, winner of three of the six NHRA Top Fuel races contested in Thunder Valley since 2001, made Fuller a bridesmaid in 2005 and 2006.
"Bristol was my first-ever Top Fuel final,' said Fuller, who sits atop the Top Fuel standings heading into Bristol. "It was early in my career and I lost on a holeshot. That's tough to take being a longtime sportsmen racer. That made me realize how hard Top Fuel is. Then to lose to (Doug) Kalitta again in the final last year was rough. Going to the final isn't anything to complain about, but you want to win. I'm tired of playing bridesmaid at Bristol. I want to win this year."
In 2005 Fuller red-lighted at the starting line and last year he smoked his tires. This time around the 36-year-old Las Vegas native, who is having his best season to date despite having no sponsor, is hoping to turn his luck around in Bristol.
"Hopefully the third time is the charm," Fuller said. "Tennessee has been a great state to me. We got our first win at Memphis in 2005. Bristol is one of my favorite race tracks. They have great fans and that place has a lot of tradition. It's one of my favorite stops on the tour."
"Coming in as the points leader, not only do I want to win, but it would be good for our team. Being un-sponsored, our focus is to win. It's weird how you do well at certain tracks and you look forward to going to those places. You can't explain, but you do well at some tracks and we do well at Bristol."
Fuller, who earlier this year in Arizona, has accumulated 496 points this year while second-place Brandon Bernstein is second with 476 points. J.R. Todd sits third (408), followed by Larry Dixon (396), Melanie Troxel (392), Tony Schumacher (371), Bob Vandergriff (351), David Grubnic (347), Whit Bazemore (340), and Cory McClenathan (336).
Gates open on Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 a.m. and on Sunday, May 20 at 9:30 a.m. The first rounds of qualifying for the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals are Friday at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., followed by rounds three and four at 12:30 and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Final eliminations get under way at noon on Sunday.
Tickets are available for the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Grandstand ticket pricing is as follows: Friday -- Sections A - D $25 Adult / $5 Junior; Sections E - U $30 Adult / $5 Junior; Thunder Terrace $30 Adult / $5 Junior, Saturday -- Sections A - D $45 Adult / $15 Junior; Sections E - U $55 Adult / $25 Junior; Thunder Terrace $55 Adult / $25 Junior, Sunday -- Sections A - D $45 Adult / $15 Junior, Sections E - U $55 Adult / $25 Junior, Thunder Terrace $55 Adult / $25 Junior. Weekend combos are: Sections A - D $85 Adult / $40 Junior, Sections E - U $110 Adult / $60 Junior, and Thunder Terrace $110 Adult / $60 Junior.
Thunder Valley Club tickets also are available and are $300 for adults and $100 for children for the weekend. Bruton's Club suite seats are available for the weekend for $425 per person.
To purchase tickets, please call the Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway ticket office at 423.989.6900 or visit www.bristoltix.com.
