NHRA Top Fuel driver Rod Fuller was uninjured following a harrowing car fire to his personal vehicle near his home in Las Vegas on March 31. Fuller was traveling less than 45 mph at the time of the incident.
Fuller was returning from a short trip in his 2001 Lamborghini Diablo when the car caught fire. The cause of the accident is undetermined. He was less than one mile from his home in Southwestern Las Vegas at the time of the accident. Fuller, a six-time NHRA Top Fuel winner, was not injured and will next compete at the Ninth annual Summitracing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 11-13. Fuller won the fall NHRA Las Vegas race at LVMS last October.
“I get back from a race and I usually take a little cruise in that car,” Fuller said. “I had just filled up at the gas station near my house and was going less than 45 mph. It was a beautiful day and I had the window rolled down when I saw and felt a flame and smelled smoke. I didn’t get the car fully stopped and unhooked the seat belt and jumped out. The car rolled another 10-15 feet and it exploded. I’m fine, there are no injuries. I’m just very fortunate. I feel lucky to be a race car driver and that I didn’t panic.
“We don’t know why it happened, but think it was related to the fuel system. It was very scary. I was shaken up, but I’m doing fine.”
