50 Greatest Modified Drivers – Jeff Fuller
“Up the Ladder of Success”
Jeff Fuller is a 7-time Modified winner at Stafford. His first win came in 1986 in a Friday night 30-lap event. His other Stafford wins include the 1991 Spring Sizzler® and CARQUEST 150s in 1991, 1993, and 1994. Fuller, from Auburn, Massachusetts, is one of three brothers who have raced at Stafford.
Fuller began his racing career in the Late Model ranks at the now closed Westboro, MA Speedway. In addition to Westboro, he raced and won in the Late Models at Thompson. Early in 1979, Tom Dunn, who owned a Pinto Station Wagon bodied Modified that had previously been driven by Leo Cleary and Freddie Schulz, offered Fuller the ride and the pair became an instant success. They racked up numerous feature wins and track championships at Westboro in 1979 and 1981.
In 1983, Fuller teamed up with Jack Nuesner and as a team they enjoyed quite a bit of success taking wins at Stafford, Thompson, and Star Speedway. That association lasted until Neusner got sick and ultimately passed away. Before Neusner passed away, he made sure Fuller’s career would continue and got him a ride in the Bandzul No. 8. That car carried him to many victories plus the 1992 Whelen Modified Tour Championship. Fuller remained in the Bandzul Modified through 1994 when he secured a ride in the Busch Grand National South division. His success continued as he won the 1995 Rookie of the Year award. In 1996 got his first win at the ultra fast Bristol Motor Speedway.
From its inception in 1985 to 1994, Fuller was a regular competitor on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. He currently sits fifth on the All Time Modified Tour Winners list with 31 victories. In addition to his Stafford victories, and the 1992 Modified Tour Championship, Fuller has recorded major NASCAR Modified Series wins at Thompson, Connecticut, Martinsville, Virginia, Loudon, New Hampshire, and Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Jeff Fuller can add being voted to the Stafford Salutes NASCAR at 50 program recognizing the Fifty Greatest Modified Drivers of All-time as voted on by the public.
By: Phil Smith
