As part of a season-long celebration of 60 years of Modified
champions, 1992 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour titlist Jeff Fuller
will be honored at the New England Dodge Dealers 75 presented by
Charter Cable, Internet & Telephone on Thursday, June 19 at
Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.
Originally from Auburn, Mass., Fuller was one of the most
successful drivers during the first 10 years of the NASCAR
Whelen Modified Tour, and he excelled at Thompson, where he
registered a third of his career wins.
Fuller, who often had to battle his brother Rick for
checkered flags and championships, compiled 31 victories on the
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, a total that ranks fourth on the
tour’s all-time list. Before he moved on to the NASCAR
Nationwide Series in 1995, Fuller had finished in the top 10 in
the Modified season standings in seven of 10 years.
Named the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Most Popular Driver in
1992-94, Fuller was also a very successful qualifier. He won the
season Coors Light Pole Award in 1991 and 1993, and his 28
career poles ranks fourth in the tour’s record book.
After finishing as the runner-up to Mike Stefanik for the
1991 title, all of the pieces fell into place for Fuller the
following season. Thanks to a fast start that saw him register
five wins in the first nine races of the 1992 campaign, Fuller
had a stranglehold on the points lead halfway through the
schedule and held on to finish 314 points ahead of Reggie
Ruggiero. His title season included a total of six wins, 15 top
fives and 18 top 10s in 21 races.
Following a successful run in the Modifieds, Fuller went on
to nab a win and 14 top 10s in 184 career starts in the NASCAR
Nationwide Series. In 1995 he became just the fourth rookie ever
to finish in the top 10 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series season
standings and subsequently was named the Rookie of the Year. Now
a resident of Mooresville, N.C., Fuller also made 13 NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series starts.
Thompson, site of the upcoming recognition, was one of
Fuller’s best tracks. Of his 31 Modified victories, 10 came at
the .625-mile banked oval that was just a 20-minute drive from
his Auburn home. His first Thompson victory came in the 1990
World Series and he went on to capture the checkered flag in six
of the next eight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races at the
track, including four in a row in 1991-92.
NASCAR plans to honor each of its 31 all-time Modified
champions throughout the season. The celebration began with the
recognition of Frankie Schneider, Donny Lia and Richie Evans at
Thompson on April 6. Since the season-opener Red Byron, Ernie
Gahan and Mike Stefanik have also been recognized.
Fuller’s younger brother Rick, who won the NASCAR Whelen
Modified Tour title in 1993, will also be recognized at Thompson
later this year.
Following nearly a
month layoff the NASCAR Whelen Modified tour will get back on
track at Thompson for the green flag-only event on June 19 in
which caution laps will not count. The NASCAR Whelen Modified
Tour will hold an afternoon practice session and time trials at
5:30 p.m. prior to Thompson’s regular Thursday night NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series schedule, which is set to commence at
6:30 p.m. For ticket information, please visit Thompson’s
official Web site (thompsonspeedway.com).
Source: Jason
Cunningham/NASCAR WMT PR
Posted:
June 11, 2008
