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).
THE END