Story By: ELON WERNER / JIM DUNN RACING – CONCORD, NC – In his second Countdown race of his career, rookie Funny Car driver for Jim Dunn Racing Buddy Hull was able to match his best qualifying effort in back-to-back weekends at the NHRA Carolina Nationals, entering race day from the No. 12 spot at zMAX Dragway.
“Now that we’re inching up in qualifying, I know I’m doing my part as a driver,” said Hull. “I’m keeping the car in the middle of the groove. I’m working with Big Jim and Jon (Dunn) to improve my reaction times with the race car idling up a bit, and adding a little more tug, so that way, when I smash the pedal, the car really moves.”
After making three solid qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday, Hull faced off against Jack Beckman in round one of eliminations on Sunday. It was Hull’s first time running against Beckman, who is currently competing for points for a sidelined John Force. Hull had previously raced against Force twice earlier this season. When Hull took off from the starting line, he like many other drivers during round one, smoked the tires.
“We took a bunch of weight off the clutch,” said Hull. “We were trying to just slide it down the track. It should have labored down through there and ran, between a 4.00 or 4.10. Instead, it straight up knocked the tires off the car. Which is not normal for us. But we were part of about half the field who did the exact same thing in this first round. Sometimes these track conditions will do that to you.”
This weekend was Hull’s first time competing in the Carolina Nationals. In 2021 he competed in the Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway driving his Top Fuel dragster, and this year he returned to the event for the first time in a nitro Funny Car.
“From a driver’s perspective, from the first time I raced here at zMAX at the beginning of the year to now, I’m a completely different guy in my race car,” said Hull. “I’ve improved in almost every category as far as driving the race car goes. I’m way more comfortable now than I was back in April. We also have a significantly faster and more consistent race car than we did earlier in the season.”
Despite the tough first round exit, Hull still has a lot to be grateful for after his inaugural Carolina Nationals race weekend. It was the first race that his wife and newborn son, Maverick, have been able to attend since Maverick’s birth in mid-August.
“Having my family back on the road here with me is the best feeling,” said Hull. “My wife, Madi, and now Maverick are my biggest supporters and cheerleaders. I’m also thankful for our new sponsor Sunshine Energy Drink, who are based locally in the North Carolina area. I could not do what I do without the support of my family, Jim Dunn Racing and our incredible sponsors.”
Now that the Carolina Nationals is in the rearview mirror, Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team are looking ahead to next race in the Countdown, the Midwest Nationals, located just outside of St. Louis. This will be the fourth year in a row that Hull has competed at the Midwest Nationals, but the first as a Funny Car and Countdown-competitive driver. He has his eyes on the prize: moving on up into the top 10.
“I’m thinking about the race to get into the top 10 every run,” said Hull. “We are absolutely bound to move up a bit and finish in the top 10. We have four races left. We need to win a round or two in St. Louis. But there’s no question that we can do it. Our car is going down the track more often than it ever has. We’re right there, and we’re getting better. I really think St. Louis is going to be our race.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will next be in competition for the third race in the Countdown at the NHRA Midwest Nationals on September 27-29 at World Wide Technology Raceway. There will be one qualifying session on Friday, September 27 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, September 28. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Midwest Nationals visit nhra.com.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 4.108 sec, 307.30 mph; Qual. 11
Q2: No run; Qual. 12
Q3: 7.197 sec, 93.39 mph; Qual. 12
Q4: 4.101 sec, 308.92 mph; Qual. 12
Bonus Points: 0
First Round
Jack Beckman, Norco, Calif., PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS, (.077), 3.934, 322.81 mph def. Buddy Hull, Dallas, Tex., Lescure Dodge Charger, (.105), 4.597, 191.95 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – Funny Car Championship Points
1. Austin Prock 2370
2. Bob Tasca III 2241
3. John Force/Jack Beckman 2234
4. Matt Hagan 2217
5. Ron Capps 2163
6. J.R. Todd 2160
7. Alexis DeJoria 2113
8. Dan Wilkerson 2108
9. Blake Alexander 2103
10. Chad Green 2100
11. Cruz Pedregon 2075
12. Buddy Hull 2044
13. Dave Richards 2032