Story By: ELON WERNER / JIM DUNN RACING – LONG BEACH, CA – The last time rookie Funny Car driver Buddy Hull competed at Sonoma Raceway, it was his rookie Top Fuel season, and one of his first NHRA national events.
A lot has changed since 2021, but his drive to make the most of his circumstances and win rounds has not. Now a driver for the iconic Jim Dunn Racing team, this weekend at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28, Hull is doing everything he can to improve his qualifying position in a way that will better his chances come race day.
“When I was last at the Sonoma Nationals in 2021, it was one of my best qualifying efforts to date, at the No. 10 spot,” said Hull. “This season we have been working hard to get the best qualifying position possible. Where you qualify can make such a difference on race day. The team is working incredibly hard to get us there, and I just need to continue to treat every qualifying run like it’s an elimination round and do my job on the starting line.”
The Sonoma Nationals will be Hull’s 12th NHRA national event as a Funny Car driver. Since the beginning of the season, he’s appeared in the opposite lane on race day against seven other Funny Car drivers including John Force, Matt Hagan and Ron Capps, the continuation of a lifelong dream.
“I still can’t believe how blessed I am to be doing what I am now doing,” said Hull. “I have been a Funny Car fan for as long as I can remember, so being able to call myself a Funny Car driver is still a pinch-me experience. I will never take for granted being able to wrangle one of these cars and work with such a great group of people.”
To help give back to the racing community that Hull is so thankful for, Hull will be a featured driver for the Karting for a Cause event and the 16th Annual Eric Medlen Nitro Night. Both events are on Thursday, July 25, and will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities.
“It’s an honor to recognize the lasting legacy of Eric Medlen,” said Hull. “I love giving back through events like this because we’re able to make a difference in children’s lives while also showing off the best parts of our sport.”
Another highlight for the weekend will be new sponsors Alo and Jenji Boba Tea, two madly popular organic beverages that will adorn the rear wing of Hull’s Lescure Mechanical Services Funny Car for the second race in a row. ALO Drink is the No. 1 aloe vera beverage brand, because of their dedication to using real aloe vera straight from the leaf and combining it with fruit and vegetable juices, and only the best Non-GMO or organic ingredients. Jenji Boba Tea is made with an exclusive Coco Jelly Boba, which offers a lighter, lower carb alternative to traditional tapioca pearls. Jenji embraces the delightful chewiness of boba in a more blissful experience.
“It was so awesome to have Alo and Jenji Boba Tea join us in Seattle, and we are proud to represent them again during the second race of the Western Swing,” said Hull. “At home I love to host and keep my fridge stocked with a variety of drinks that my guests will enjoy, so this budding partnership has opened up a whole new world of drink options I can’t wait to share with my friends on and off of the track.”
Season-long sponsor Lescure Mechanical Services will once again be highlighted on the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car body. In addition to Lescure, Alo and Jenji, Hull will be repping other long-term sponsors Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Solid Start/True Brand Products, Blaze Exhaust Probes, Crow Safety, KGC Construction, Koppl Pipeline Services, Mooneyes, Good Vibrations Motorsports, Powerbuilt Tools and Wiley X.
“This is going to be a fantastic back-to-back weekend of racing, coming off of the continued progress we had in Seattle,” said Hull. “I’m looking forward to getting back out on the track and giving back to the community in a big way this weekend.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will make two qualifying runs on Friday, July 26 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, July 27 at Sonoma Raceway. The top 16 quickest Funny Cars in the field will then compete for the final Western Swing Wally on Sunday, July 28. The first round of eliminations will begin on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. PST. Fans can watch the finals on FOX.