Story By: ELON WERNER / JIM DUNN RACING – LONG BEACH, CA – It is a brand-new season for Funny Car rookie Buddy Hull, driver of the Lescure Funny Car owned by Jim Dunn Racing.
After a 14-race regular season Hull’s consistency paid off and the team will be competing for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championship during the six-race NHRA Countdown playoffs.
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team are sitting at No. 12, just 145 points behind point leader Austin Prock. Entering the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals this weekend at famed Maple Grove Raceway Hull and the team are excited about the opportunity.
“We know we have a ways to go for a Funny Car championship but our first goal is to make the most out of the weekend at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway,” said Hull. “We had our best race of the season at the biggest race, the Toyota U.S. Nationals. Racing to the quarterfinals and almost getting to the semis really was a huge boost for this Lescure Funny Car team.”
With the Countdown getting underway Jim Dunn Racing is continuing to add marketing partners including Sunshine Beverages for the Reading and Charlotte Countdown races. Sunshine is a refreshing, hydrating and functional energy drink. With just 70mg of caffeine, it offers the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ for sustained mental clarity, allowing fans to power through tasks with ease. Hull is excited to work with a company like Sunshine Beverages because he understands the benefits.
“You have to be so mentally sharp behind the wheel of this 11,000 horsepower Funny Car,” said Hull. “Sunshine Beverages gives you that boost without the crash. They are working with Jim Dunn Racing because they know we can get them in front of thousands of people and help them expand their presence. My goal is to do my best behind the wheel and then spend some time with the fans talking about all our great partners.”
Two weeks ago, Hull raced to the quarterfinals in Indianapolis upsetting Bob Tasca III in the first round. The round win was a long time coming for the young Top Fuel turned Funny Car driver, but the new father wants to prove the win was not a fluke. Hull and his wife Madi welcomed the birth of their son Maverick prior to the race.
“You look at the progress this Jim Dunn Racing team has made this season it doesn’t always show up on a time sheet,” said Hull. “Everyone has been working to fit me into this race car. They have been super supportive as I have learned how to drive this Funny Car. We have all kept a positive attitude thanks to the leadership of Jim and Jon Dunn. These last six races of the season will be our whole season. That is what we have been working towards.”
With the points reset Hull is 145 points out of first place. There are 100 points up for grabs at event NHRA national event plus qualifying bonus points and the final race of the season is for points and a half. The opportunity to race into the Top Ten or even higher is a realistic goal for the team.
“We have been grinding all season and we have added some new parts for the Countdown,” said Hull. “We want to keep working hard and we’ll see what happens. This has been a great year so far and these final six races will be a lot fun.”
Qualifying for the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals will begin on Friday with two sessions followed by two more qualifying runs on Saturday. The quickest 16 Funny Cars will race for the Wally trophy on Sunday morning with the first round of eliminations scheduled for 10:30 a.m. EST. The race will be televised nationally on FOX.