Economy a drag for NHRA drivers Rod Fuller, Hillary Will
When the NHRA drag racing season opens a month from now in Pomona, two of the sport's leading drivers in its elite top-fuel class -- Rod Fuller and Hillary Will -- likely won't be competing due to the sour economy.
Fuller had driven for David Powers Motorsports and won last year's O'Reilly Midwest Nationals. But Powers said Wednesday that he parted ways with the car's main sponsor, Caterpillar, and was selling the team's assets to focus on his home-building business "during these difficult times."
"The season is about to start and here I don't have a ride," Fuller said today, adding that it would be a "miracle" if he could join another team before the NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona on Feb. 5-8.
Will, meanwhile, said today that "I will not be driving at Pomona" because her dragster, owned by KB Racing and managed by Kalitta Motorsports, can't find a primary sponsor. This, despite Will winning the O'Reilly Summer Nationals last year, finishing fourth in points and setting the sport's fastest speed by a woman, 334.65 mph, a year ago at Pomona.
"When the economy went real south toward the end of last year, all our [sponsorship] prospects seemed to go away," Will said.
-- Jim Peltz
Photo: Top-fuel drag racer Rod Fuller qualifying last Nov. 14 in the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. Credit: Brian Losness/US Presswire
Its really sad to see great competators like Fuller and Will be shut out of the cat and mouse sponsor game. the NHRA is so great....they need to figure out a sponsorship solution for more payout..but ESPNs coverage is bar none A+. Maybee they could start putting the us nationals on abc????
Posted by: John Ritenour | January 12, 2009 at 05:39 PM
The evolution of the sport was inevitable, but, when it became a money game instead of a sport, that's when it all went south. NHRA has become a monster and when things get tight,troubles. I'm sure it will all work out. pro drag racing is STILL the best bang for the buck in motorsports, but, the Hot Rod Heritage series is becoming a huge contender now. They just might get our bucks this year instead of the pros. I like what I see. Real racing,like it used to be. It's a shame the guys that that have been in the sport for 50 years worry about money now instead of racing. Am I wrong?
Posted by: Brent Madson | January 21, 2009 at 09:26 AM