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Rod Fuller Las Vegas final report

Bob Vandergriff Racing press release

Rod Fuller, Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit Dragster

Rod Fuller, Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit Dragster

Michael C. Johnson

FULLER WRAPS UP 2011 SEASON WITH A QUARTERFINAL FINISH
At The Strip in Las Vegas, Oct. 27-30

Rod Fuller, Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit Dragster
Rod Fuller, Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina Circuit Dragster

Photo by: Michael C. Johnson

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2011) – Hot Rod Fuller, driver of the Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel Dragster, said his goodbyes to the 2011 season yesterday at the close of the 11th annual Big O Tires NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas. The event was the fifth of six playoff races in the NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship and Fuller’s final race of the year.

Fuller qualified in the no. 7 spot and took the no. 10 qualified player, Doug Kalitta, out of the game early on Sunday.

“I was really excited about qualifying. We made all great runs this week and qualified in the top half of the field again. Everyone was packed in there between 3.83 and 3.85 (elapsed times). We broke the track record for speed at 325.85 mph and we’re probably going to hold onto that track record, which is pretty cool. This year we qualified in the top 8 for every event we participated except two of them. That’s something to be proud of.

“We won first round and made a great run. What was really exciting about second round was we had Spencer Massey who is fighting for a championship and we really wanted to be a factor in the championship. We were the last pair of the second round , everybody lost in front of us and no one was really even making it down the right lane so we went down there and ran a 3.90 flat to his 3.89 and it was a great run, especially in that lane. Spencer beat me on the tree and that really bothered me because that’s something I pride myself on. This is my last race before I go back to Abu Dhabi and it makes me want it more. Sometimes you try too hard and that’s what I feel like I was doing today, just putting too much pressure on myself,” said Fuller.

Fuller returned to the series earlier this year in the newly redesigned Yas Marina Circuit Top Fuel Dragster with DIGIORNO® Pizza on board. He made his 2011 debut at the 11th annual Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Tri-Cities Area Ford Dealers in Bristol, Tenn., his first of ten select events for the season.

“It’s not the ideal way to end the season, but you know, I have a fast race car, a great team and a lot to look forward to next season, hopefully running a full season with DIGIORNO® Pizza, C & J Energy Services and some of our other sponsors. I’m just really excited about getting the 2012 season started because I get to race full time, I have sponsors and just a lot going on,” said Fuller.

Fuller will not be competing in Pomona for the last NHRA event of 2011, the 47th annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, Nov. 10-13.

“It’s tough for me not go to Pomona, that’s one of my favorite races, but I work for Yas Marina Circuit and next week is one of their biggest races of the year, the Formula One race in Abu Dhabi and they want me to be there. So I’ll be there for that and then I’ll start doing by teaching and training. It’s hard to not be in Pomona, even if I wasn’t racing I would still like to be there to support Bob (Vandergriff Jr.),” he added.

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