Q&A with NHRA Top Fuel driver ‘Hot’ Rod Fuller
Written by David Lamm · March 30, 2006
Many might have been surprised when Top Fuel driver ‘Hot’ Rod Fuller won the second race of the year in Phoenix. Maybe only Fuller himself and his team and sponsors were the only ones that thought he had a chance. Now is second place in the NHRA POWERade points, Fuller has two races upcoming that he considers himself to be the hometown favorite. Up next is Houston, the hometown of David Powers Homes, one of his anchor sponsors and after that he heads home to Las Vegas. In this Q&A, Fuller talks about the lucky charm that seems to get better with age, and how he’ll tackle what are essentially back-to-back home races for him.
When Rod Fuller made his national event debut in Gainesville in 1992, he did it with help from Demolition Man. And when Rod won at Firebird Raceway last month, Demolition Man, Fullers good luck troll that rides with him on every pass - was the first on scene. Now, with only one partial POWERade tour behind him, Fuller is second in the point standings after three events and looking to move up in the standings. His good luck charm has been around since the early 1990’s but it hasn’t been an easy road for him.
Q: Do you have any good luck race-day rituals?
FULLER: The only thing I have superstition-wise is my little troll in my car. That guy is famous, my troll. His name is Demolition Man. He’s been with me for my whole racing career, since I was 16 or 17 years old. My mom gave him to me as a kind of protector. In the early 90s, that was a really big thing. He’s been with me through so many experiences. When I ran in Top Fuel in 95 at the Gatornationals, I had a really big engine explosion. I was putting him out with one hand while I tried to get the car stopped. Now he’s all burned up with one eye, but he sits to my left in the dragster, right by my shoulder. He’s always on ESPN2.
Q: You ran a partial schedule in ‘05. Did that prepare you for a full circuit?
FULLER: I still consider myself a rookie because I haven’t run a full-fledged Top Fuel season. Last year was a little help, but there were times when I had two months out, so it was hard to get into the groove. I feel so good to have a win already under my belt. I cant wait until next year. It should be twice as good as this year.
Q: Where do you put your race trophies?
FULLER: I like to share my Wallys. My mom has my first one. The one from Phoenix, I let a group of friends of mine have it for a week at a time. I haven’t had it yet. Most people never get to see one, touch one and enjoy one. I want other people to get that experience, too.
Q: How do you see this season playing out?
FULLER: I think its going right as planned. At the beginning of the season we considered ourselves as going for the championship, but I’m not sure that others knew what to make of us. I think after Phoenix they realized were for real and going for it. My goal is to go to Houston and win it and get right back to chasing Melanie (Troxel) down and trying to hold off (Tony) Schumacher and the rest of the guys. Fans are starting to recognize me more now. It’s really odd for me.
Q: Who are your idols?
FULLER: Blaine Johnson was my idol. Also Donald Trump. I try to pattern myself after him because he can take something that’s really small and try to generate press and make it a lot more than it is. I also admire his passion.
Q: If you could put your own dream team of drag racers together, who would be on it? (Drivers past and present are eligible.)
FULLER: Lee Beard has been my dream crew chief and I finally got him. I wouldn’t change a thing. But if I put my own dream team together, it would be Blaine Johnson, my dad (Bob) and older brother (Steve), Scotty and Edmund Richardson, John Force because I’ve always been fascinated by him, and Kenny Bernstein for what he’s done for the sport.
Q: Who do you go to for advice?
FULLER: My mom (Cathy). My mom gets me and I trust her. I was a mammas boy growing up, but I think the reason I was because we resemble each other so much. I always said she built me to be the way I am. My mom and dad made a lot of sacrifices in their lives to get me where I am today.
Q: How do you get rid of stress?
FULLER: I get wound up big-time, so my release is to work out really hard. I do a lot of boxing. Its amazing you can be so tensed up and when you work out you feel so relieved. I like to go to movies. I kind of like love stories and dramas. I’m a hopeless romantic. I love a good, sad movie. It gets me all ready to go.
Q: Are you happy to come home to Las Vegas?
FULLER: I’m excited about coming home, but we have a job to do in Houston especially since its David’s hometown. The main focus is to do well, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that coming home to Vegas is exciting.
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