Wednesday, April 2, 2008 | 9:36 a.m.
Rod Fuller, an NHRA Top Fuel driver, escaped injuries after the car he was driving burst into flames Monday near his Las Vegas home.
Fuller was returning from a short trip in his 2001 Lamborghini Diablo when the car caught fire less than a mile from his Southwest Las Vegas home. Fuller, a six-time NHRA Top Fuel winner, was not injured and plans to compete at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals next week at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“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 to 15 feet and it exploded. I’m fine. There are no injuries. I’m just very fortunate. I feel lucky to be a racecar driver and that I didn’t panic.”
Fuller said he does not know what caused the fire but he suspects it was a problem with the fuel system.
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