(Stafford Springs, CT) - Rick Fuller will return to the "hot seat" Saturday and Sunday, April 29th & 30th when the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series opens their NASCAR 2000 season at Stafford Motor Speedway's CARQUEST Spring Sizzler. Last year's CARQUEST Spring Sizzler champion played out his own dramatic version of the hit television show Who Wants to be a Millionaire in route to his remarkable victory in "The Greatest Race in the History of Spring".

With only twelve laps remaining in the '99 CARQUEST Spring Sizzler, Fuller was relegated to sixth position with an ill-handling racecar. However, Charlie Pasteryak's spin and the resulting caution allowed Fuller to utilize his final and most important lifeline - phone a friend. He phoned his Sheba Racing pit crew. "We certainly needed that caution," said Fuller, who used the late race caution to pit for new tires. "We anticipated pitting for tires around lap 150, not with a handful of laps remaining. I radioed for four new tires, but the crew called for three. The crew's call for only three got me off pit road quick and that's what eventually won us the race." Although Fuller and his crew successively utilized their final lifeline, Fuller was positioned fourth when the race restarted on lap 195. Fuller now needed to pass Tony Hirschman, Eddie Flemke and Chris Kopec in five laps.

By lap 196 Fuller thundered past Kopec and then Flemke. Just as Fuller set his sights on race-leader Tony Hirschman, the race's final caution waved setting up a two-lap dash for the victory. Fuller went on to pass Hirschman exiting turn two on the last lap to score one of the most exciting come from behind wins in CARQUEST Spring Sizzler history. "We knew to win the race, I'd have to pass those guys immediately," explained Fuller. "If I waited too long and they got comfortable, we wouldn't have a chance. It was a wild and nerve wracking way to win the Sizzler but it paid off."

Entering the 2000 CARQUEST Spring Sizzler, Fuller is extremely confident in his chances to become the sixth driver to record back-to-back Spring Sizzler victories. "I've never gone in to a season this optimistic and that's no fluff," exclaimed Fuller, who could join Richie Evans, Mike Ewanitsko, Greg Sacks, Mike Stefanik and Maynard Troyer as back-to-back Spring Sizzler champions. "With American Sleeve Bearing on-board as our primary sponsor and new equipment, the level of enthusiasm is at an all-time high." Rick Fuller and the rest of the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series will take the "hot seat" at the season-opening CARQUEST Spring Sizzler April 29th and 30th.

Tickets for the CARQUEST Spring Sizzler are now on-sale by calling the speedway box-office at (860) 684-2783. General Admission tickets are $30.00 for adults and $5.00 for juniors ages 6-14. Reserved seating is available for $32.50. Kids five and under are free as is parking. All tickets include admission both Saturday and Sunday. Stafford Motor Speedway's box-office accepts most major credit cards. For more information on the April 29th and 30th CARQUEST Spring Sizzler, visit SMS Online at www.staffordspeedway.com.