50 Greatest Modified Drivers – Rick Fuller
“Well Rounded Racer”
Rick Fuller is one of three brothers who have driven Modifieds at Stafford Motor Speedway. Fuller won races in the Late Models, the SK Modifieds®, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ProStocks, and Busch North Series. His Modified record shows 11 wins at Stafford Motor Speedway. He has recorded six in the SK Modifieds® with the first win coming on July 18, 1984. His Modified wins include three Spring Sizzlers® (1992, 1999, 2000) and a Stafford 150 in 1994.
Fuller got his start late in 1979 at the now closed Westboro Speedway in Westboro, Mass. He ran a full schedule there in 1980 and 1981, winning the Championship both years. In 1982, he shifted his Late Model efforts to Riverside and Thompson. In the fall of that year he ventured to Pocono for the National Street Stock Championship where he was the class of the field until dropping out with mechanical problems. After taking 1983 off, Fuller joined the open wheel Modified ranks of the S.N.Y.R.A. at Thompson. After one year of limited success he teamed up with Ted Marsh to race a SK Modified® at Waterford plus the Modified Tour.
With the exception of a short stay in the Busch Series, Fuller was a Modified Tour regular and is currently tied for eighth place on the Modified Series All-time Winners List with Tony Hirshman and has fourteen career Modified Series wins. Among his many accomplishments in the Modifieds, was the 1993 Series Championship. In addition to his wins at Stafford, he won the Thompson 300 in 1992 and the Winston 200 in Richmond, Virginia in 1990.
Fuller currently drives the Banzul No. 8 on the Modified Series and also competes in selected Busch North events. If the opportunity presents itself Fuller may again head south, but for the remainder of 1998, his situation remains secure in the Modified Series.
Fuller has also been selected by the public as one of the Fifty Greatest Modified Drivers of All-time as part of Stafford Motor Speedway’s Stafford Salutes NASCAR at 50 Program. Selected through a public voting that included more than 30,000 votes it is a truly great honor.
By: Phil Smith
