Current NHRA Top Fuel points leader Rod Fuller will continue to fly the familiar red, white and blue colors of longtime sponsor Valvoline at the 38th annual ACDelco Gatornationals at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway. Valvoline will remain as an associate sponsor for David Powers Motorsports on Fuller’s rail and the Matco Tools dragster of Whit Bazemore.

“We’re very appreciative of Valvoline stepping up to the plate to remain as Rod Fuller’s primary sponsor at the Gainesville race,” team owner Powers said. “This helps as we continue to hunt for a primary backer. Valvoline and Rod Fuller are synonymous, and Valvoline will continue to play a vital role in the success of our team this season.”

“The plan was always to continue as an associate sponsor for David Powers Motorsports and Hot Rod Fuller, and we couldn’t be more pleased that we will be the primary sponsor for the NHRA Top Fuel points leader at Gainesville,” Valvoline Vice President of Global Brands Rob Stravitz said.

Fuller enters the historic Florida event atop the Top Fuel standings following his stout performance and win at the Phoenix race in late February. In a repeat of the 2006 final round, Fuller defeated Melanie Troxel to earn his fourth career NHRA Top Fuel victory. He also recorded personal-best performance marks in his Rob Flynn-tuned dragster (4.466 seconds, 331.61 mph). Fuller holds a 43-point advantage over second-generation driver Brandon Bernstein. Teammate Bazemore sits fourth in the standings, trailing Fuller by 67 points.

“It’s great to keep that Valvoline paint scheme going because people associate Rod Fuller with Valvoline,” Fuller said. “We’ve won a lot of races together, and I’m hoping we can win one more and stay on a roll. Rob (Flynn) has our car running great and I’m fired up about Gainesville. Valvoline will still be with our race team and that’s important.”

The Las Vegas resident has earned 17 NHRA national event victories in four different categories, Top Fuel, Super Comp, Super Gas and Stock. Fuller raced to a semifinal effort at the 2007 season-opener at Pomona, Calif. before winning at Phoenix two weeks later. He clocked the three quickest passes of his career during the Phoenix event.