He was injured by an engine explosion in his Jim Dunn Racing Dodge Charger Funny Car. It happened during the 37th Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals in the middle of July and Buddy Hull has been on the sidelines of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competition ever since. He’s been at the tracks where NHRA has competed over the past 10 weeks, even as he’s undergone physical and occupational therapy in Dallas, TX.
The intent was always to return to the seat and to put substitute driver Alex Laughlin back in his other NHRA machines full-time, including his Pro Mod entry. Hull’s left hand has been healing, albeit slower than he hoped, keeping Dunn’s second-year driver on the sidelines. That’s over now and Buddy Hull will return to competition for the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals the weekend of October 31 through November 2 on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
With a sense of relief, Hull spoke about his time away from the Funny Car wars and his delight in returning to competition. “First, I want to thank Alex for stepping in and keeping the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car on track while I have been healing and rehabbing,” Hull declared. “I have been doing my best to stay active at the track, but there is no substitute for the 320-mph rush of racing for Big Jim Dunn. I want to finish our 75th season strong, and I thank all our fans who have reached out with well wishes and support over the past few months.”
Expect to see Hull race in Sin City and in NHRA’s season finale two weeks later in Pomona. He’s focused on finishing the season in a strong manner as Jim Dunn Racing celebrates its continuing appearance in NHRA’s playoffs, the Countdown to the Championship. The season finale on the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip is significant, in that the Southern California-based squad celebrates its 75th season in its team owner’s Hall of Fame racing career.
While Hull hasn’t been able to drive his Funny Car since mid-July, he did manage to earn one prize during the 71st Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Labor Day weekend. Competing in the second Baby Walker Nationals, Hull’s son Maverick Hull was the first toddler over the finish line in this fun event. Maverick Hull was competing against some big guns’ spawn: Harper Torrence, second daughter of four-time Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence; Noah Alexander, Top Fuel and Funny Car race winner Blake Alexander’s son; Tripp Coughlin, son of Pro Stock standout Troy Coughlin Jr.; Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett’s son Dominic, who was the youngest competitor in this “race.”
Staying away from racetracks as he’s healed has not been an option; Hull has been on-site to support Big Jim Dunn’s team and his part-time replacement racer, Alex Laughlin. “To be able to be the driver at Jim Dunn Racing has been incredible,” Hull admitted, “and I wanted to get back in the Funny Car as soon as possible so I could close out the season in Pomona. Jim Dunn Racing has so much history in Pomona and across Southern California. I am honored to be back behind the wheel.”
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