NHRA Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is bringing a wave of momentum—and a brand-new Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car—to Virginia Motorsports Park for the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals, June 21-22. In just his sophomore season behind the wheel of a Nitro Funny Car, Hull is quickly gaining recognition as a rising star, and this weekend’s two-day showdown could mark a turning point in his breakout year.
The Richmond event will be the first time Hull debuts the stunning Blaze Exhaust Probes livery on the Jim Dunn Racing machine. Blaze, a longtime supporter of the team and a leader in temperature sensor technology since 1996, brings its high-performance reputation to the track in a big way. Known for building the most rugged and reliable sensors in the industry, Blaze aligns perfectly with Hull’s precision-focused approach.
“I’m fired up to be racing in Virginia this weekend—it’s one of the most passionate fan bases on the tour, and the energy at Virginia Motorsports Park is always electric,” Hull said. “I’m especially proud to be debuting our brand-new Blaze Exhaust Probes livery. Blaze is all about precision and performance, and that’s exactly how I approach every run.”
In addition to Blaze, Hull’s Funny Car will also showcase support from a stacked roster of season-long partners: Lescure Mechanical Services, KGC Construction, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Crow Safety, Koppl Pipeline Services, True Brand, Mooneyes, Compass Facility Services, USD, and Wiley X. Montauk Native Gas joins the lineup for the first time this season with branding on the car’s rear wing.
Hull heads into the Virginia NHRA Nationals riding high after back-to-back quarterfinal finishes, including first-round wins over top qualifier Austin Prock at both the NHRA New England Nationals and the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. His calm, consistent driving style has earned the respect of peers and fans alike.
“Every run, I’m getting more and more in-sync with this car,” Hull said. “Funny Cars are some of the most intense machines in motorsports, but I love the challenge. My job is to keep it straight, keep it fast, and make sure we’re in a position to win rounds. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing.”
Most recently in Bristol, Hull demonstrated composure under extreme pressure when his parachutes failed to deploy, sending him into the sand trap at the end of the shutdown area. He emerged unscathed—and determined. That incident prompted Jim Dunn Racing to debut a completely new Funny Car this weekend in Richmond.
“It has been a busy week for the team,” said Jon Dunn. “We’ve been in Indy working on the new car. My dad, Big Jim, has been on the phone daily, and I’ve been here with the crew. We worked straight through Father’s Day. I’d like to thank Antron Brown and his Antron Brown Motorsports team, as well as Murf McKinney Corporation, for their support.”
With the new car prepped and loaded, Hull is eager to keep the team’s hot streak alive.
“I trust this team completely,” Hull said. “This new car is solid, and I’m thrilled to show it off in front of the Virginia fans with the new Blaze Exhaust Probes design. This is one of those races where you have to come out swinging. There’s no Friday, no warm-up day. We’re in and we’re on from the first burnout. This team is hungry, and we’re putting everything into this race.”
The American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals is the only two-day event on the 20-race NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule, giving teams just three qualifying runs on Saturday, June 21. The top 16 Funny Cars will advance to eliminations on Sunday, June 22, starting at 12 p.m. ET. The final rounds will be broadcast on FOX.
The compressed format leaves no margin for error—but Hull thrives under pressure.
“It’s go-time from the first burnout,” he said. “No room for error. I’ve always believed in being prepared and staying sharp, and that’s what this team does best. We don’t need extra time to get focused—we’re already there.”
For tickets and additional event information, visit NHRA.com.