After 13 wins in Super Comp and Super Gas, Rod Fuller won his first Professional title behind the wheel of David Powers' Valvoline dragster. Fuller made the quickest run of eliminations in the final with a 4.61 against reigning POWERade world champ Tony Schumacher. (Marc Gewertz photos)
TOP FUEL by Bruce Dillashaw
"There are some very talented people who race in Super Comp, and it's a very competitive class. Anybody who is able to win in that class, if their heart and mind is in it, they can win in Top Fuel or Funny Car." crew chief Lee Beard on the racing credentials of his winning driver, Rod Fuller (page 16)Doug Kalitta failed to win from the No. 1 qualifying position three times this season, but after dropping to the bottom half of the field for the first time this year with a No. 9 effort, he went on to drive his Mac Tools machine to what may be the pivotal victory of his 2005 campaign. (page 16)
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE by Brad Littlefield
""I felt like I was on that Donald Trump show [The Apprentice] because the first thing Force said to me when he got out of the car was, 'You're fired.' " Eric Medlen after beating his boss, John Force, in the final round (page 18)
Competition: Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Sportsman Coverage & Photo Highlights From TAD to Super Gas, 19 pages of Sportsman news, quotes and stats, including four pages of color photos of the best moments from Brainerd. By the ND Staff. (page 79)
National DRAGSTER Interview: Bob Frey When ND turns the microphone around on the fans' favorite interviewer, we learn what has driven the Frey guy to keep pointing his '78 Dodge Aspen back toward the drags for the last 40 years. By Kevin McKenna. (page 34)
Analysis: The Pros, Cons, and History of Multi-car Nitro Teams Multi-car teams have sparked both admiration and controversy since Candies & Hughes foreshadowed the trend in the early 1970s. Crew chiefs and owners speak to ND's John Jodauga about the good, the bad, and the reality of fielding these mega-teams. (page 69)