Story By: ELON WERNER / JIM DUNN RACING – LONG BEACH, CA – In one short NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, Buddy Hull has become one of the most likeable competitors in the Funny Car category.
His charismatic nature plays well with fans, sponsors and competitors alike, and as the Jim Dunn Racing nitro Funny Car continues to get faster, he is quickly also becoming a fierce competitor in an extremely tough field. Hull is next in competition this coming weekend at the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals, Nov. 1-3, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I like to put people at ease and show them a hospitable time,” said Hull. “That balances out well with the competitive side of my personality, and how I’m always striving to improve. I think of myself as both a lover and a fighter and I think that shows when I am at an NHRA event.”
For the second time this season, Hull will feature Kindness General Contractors, LLC, as the main sponsor on the Jim Dunn Funny Car. Kindness General Contractors, LLC, also known as KGC, LLC, is a full-service general contracting firm designed to manage and facilitate a complete range of construction projects. Local companies and longtime sponsors of Jim Dunn Racing, Gilley’s and Treasure Island, will also be highlighted on the 12,0000 horse-powered nitro Funny Car.
“I love representing such hardworking, salt-of-the-earth people,” said Hull. “KGC shares a lot of the same values that I strive for in my own contracting company back in Dallas. And then we couldn’t do what we do without the help of guys like Gilley’s and Treasure Island. It’s a blast to give local companies a chance to be recognized at a national event that’s happening in their neck of the woods.”
Vegas is particularly special for the Jim Dunn Racing team because it’s the home race for co-owner Jon Dunn’s company, Crow Safety Gear. The Crow line of safety gear includes junior and adult auto racing suits, gloves, shoes, neck collars, fire retardant underwear and arm restraints. Crow manufactures all their famous racing seat belts in the USA.
In addition to KGC and Crow Safety Gear, Hull will continue to rep his season-long sponsors, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Lescure Mechanical Services, Solid Start/True Brand Products, Blaze Exhaust Probes, Koppl Pipeline Services, Mooneyes, Good Vibrations Motorsports, Powerbuilt Tools and Wiley X.
“We have two races left to finish out the season on a strong note,” said Hull. “We’re still aiming to finish in the Top 10, and with a solid qualifying effort and a few necessary round wins, that is still possible for us. I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to get a few win lights, and the team will do the same.”
Hull is excited to make his return to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals earlier this year. This race will mark the first time Hull has ever competed in Vegas in a non-four-wide event.
“Vegas has such an amazing track, so I consider us lucky that we get to compete out here twice a year,” said Hull. “The fans are amazing, and I can’t wait to show how far I’ve come as a Funny Car driver since April. We’re going to put on another great show for them.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will make two qualifying runs on Friday, November 1 and two qualifying runs on Saturday, November 2 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The top 16 quickest Funny Cars in the field will compete for a vital Countdown win on Sunday, November 3. The first round of eliminations will begin on Sunday at 11 a.m. PDT.