Top Fuel driver Buddy Hull is returning to his front engine roots as Jim Dunn Racing announced at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show that he will be the new driver for their Funny Car team.
Hull replaces Alex Laughlin behind the wheel of the Jim Dunn-tuned Funny Car that finished tenth in the 2023 championship point standings.
The Jim Dunn Racing team had an impressive run in the NHRA Countdown, securing a semifinal finish and three quarterfinal finishes. Hull will pilot the car for the full 21-race Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
“We are thrilled to have Buddy as our new Funny Car driver. I’ve been keeping an eye on him for some time now, and his running style and personality align perfectly with our race team,” said team manager Jon Dunn. “I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together when he gets behind the wheel of the Funny Car.”
Hull has been campaigning a Top Fuel dragster on a limited schedule since 2021. Over the past three seasons, he has established partnerships with sponsors such as Renegade Race Fuels, Methanol Moonshine, and Go Lithium, among others, while also actively promoting charitable causes like the North Texas Down Syndrome Foundation through his racing program.
“Being asked to drive for Jim Dunn Racing is a tremendous honor and privilege,” Hull said. “I started my career with front-engine racing in fuel altereds, so I’m eagerly looking forward to this challenge. My goal is to make Jim, Jon, and the entire team proud. We have more announcements coming up, but I am focused on earning my crossover license and gaining valuable seat time ahead of the 2024 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.”
Jim Dunn Racing, known for its six-decade-long legacy, has continuously proven its competitiveness. Jim Dunn himself achieved great success throughout his career, securing a Top Fuel win at the 1969 March Meet, triumphing over a field of 125 drivers. Notably, his innovative Barracuda brought him a remarkable victory at the 1972 Supernationals, the first and only rear-engined Funny Car win to date. During the ’90s, Dunn transitioned to team ownership, where his smaller-budgeted Funny Cars defied expectations and achieved victories and high finishes with drivers like Frank Pedregon and Al Hofmann.
Jim Dunn will continue to serve as the team’s tuner, surrounded by a group of skilled crew members that includes his wife, Diane, and granddaughter, Johnna Dunn.
Hull will now focus on obtaining his crossover license and exploring additional marketing opportunities with the team. Racing enthusiasts can witness Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car team make their on-track debut at the historic Gatornationals on March 8-10, 2024, at Gainesville Raceway.
