Jim Dunn Racing will celebrate its 75th anniversary this weekend when the team fields its Menards Funny Car at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Sept. 26-28. The milestone comes as the veteran operation continues its run through the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
At the most recent Countdown stop in Charlotte, substitute driver Alex Laughlin recorded runs of 4.026, 4.000 and 3.987 seconds while filling in for Buddy Hull. Those passes gave the team momentum heading into the third of six playoff events.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the direction our team is headed,” Hull said. “Charlotte was a big step forward for us with that sub-four-second run, and it showed that the hard work everyone has been putting in is starting to pay off.”
Hull remains sidelined with a left-hand injury suffered at the Denso Sonoma Nationals in July. Laughlin, who is also competing in Pro Mod, will again step into the Funny Car seat as the team looks to continue its progress.
“I’m itching to be back behind the wheel of this 12,000-horsepower nitro Funny Car, but my hand still needs to get stronger before it’s safe for me to do so,” Hull said. “I want a long career in this sport, so I don’t want to cause worse problems for myself by hopping back into the seat prematurely.”
Menards returns as primary sponsor for the St. Louis event, joined by Lincoln Welders. To mark the partnership, Hull, Laughlin and team owner Jim Dunn will appear Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the O’Fallon Menards store, where they will meet fans, sign autographs and take photos.
“Being able to represent Menards for the second time this season is an honor,” Hull said. “Their support means so much to our program, and getting to meet fans at the Menards store on Thursday with Big Jim is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Alongside Menards and Lincoln Welders, Jim Dunn Racing will carry support from Blaze Exhaust Probes, Lescure Mechanical Services, KGC Construction, Mooneyes, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Crow Safety, Koppl Pipeline Services, True Brand, Wiley X, USD and Compass Facility Services.
“These Countdown races are getting serious, every team is giving it everything they’ve got,” Hull said. “Jim Dunn Racing is still very much in that fight. I talked to Alex, and we’re coming to show out in St. Louis. It’s something the fans won’t want to miss.”
