Jeff Fultz Turns It All Around With Birmingham SLM Triumph

In racing, all it takes is that one victory to turn things around.

Jeff Fultz has been used to being in victory lane frequently through his years in the NASCAR Southeast Series and in other various Super Late Model divisions. Last year, however, was a tough one for Fultz, as he showed signs of having a strong rookie season in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Southern Division, but he never found his way to the winners’ circle.

That all changed in the course of 100 laps at Birmingham International Raceway on Sunday, however. Fultz took all that bad luck of late and turned it into an emotional victory over a stout field of Super Late Models as part of the Early Bird event at historic BIR.

Fultz took a car that was laying in pieces after a fiery wreck in Lakeland, FL, more than a year ago to a dominant performance on BIR. With a re-built racecar and plenty of outside motivation, Fultz proved that winning was not going to be a problem for him in 2007.

“You know, I needed to win a race,” said Fultz. “I built that car, and it didn't run any races when we wrecked it one time in Lakeland last year. We rebuilt it and (team member) Brandon Bishop worked his butt off on it. We sit around and drink beer every once in a while, and that car is our toy. We wanted to come here because I love Birmingham, and he is from here.”

Fultz started on the pole after a post-qualifying redraw and settled into second behind early leader and Alabama SLM veteran Ken McFarland. Fultz followed in McFarland’s tire tracks early on, but McFarland developed a problem that forced him into the turn-three wall just before halfway in the 100-lap event.

That put the lead in Fultz’s hands, and even though he hadn’t been in victory lane in a while, Fultz certainly did not forget what it takes to win.

“Our car was real good. I let Ken (McFarland) go because he is real good here. I needed someone to gauge off of, and I gauged off him for a while. I was a little better in three and four, but he was better in one and two.

“I hated that he popped a tire getting into three and wrecked. It made it a little easier on us. I didn't know how hard to run on these tires. But we got fortunate.”

Fultz took his own #54 Super Late Model to victory lane in Birmingham, but it was not a one-man effort by any means.

“We got a lot of help down here,” said Fultz. “This is my car, but a bunch of guys helped me do this. A lot of guys gave me this or that - gave me gas money and other things that really helped. Randy Wilson lent me the Volunteer Performance engine. We don’t own a lot of stuff, it’s just a couple of those guys that have fun in the shop. Both of the teams I drive for helped me out. Some gave us springs and other stuff. The JCR3 Pro Cup team gave me stuff and Curtis Venable (who

Fultz drives for occasionally in other Super Late Model races) gave me some stuff to come down here and have some fun."

While Fultz got a lot of help from some friends in the shop and at the track that brought him to victory lane, there was one buddy missing from Birmingham that gave him the most motivation to win.

“My buddy Charlie (Bradberry, with whom Fultz raced against for years in Southeast Series and Super Late Model competition. Bradberry passed away last year at age 24), I saw him win here last. We really miss him. He was one of my best friends and he is really missed. We dedicate this race to him, and we will keep coming down here in his memory.”