The six race NHRA Countdown to the Championship kicked off today at Maple Grove Raceway with Funny Car rookie Buddy Hull in the mix for the NHRA Mission Foods Funny Car world championship. Hull and his Jim Dunn Racing Lescure Funny Car entered the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals looking to race into the Top Ten and finish the season on a high note. Two weeks ago, Hull raced to the quarterfinals at the Toyota U.S. Nationals, and he continued his positive momentum securing his best qualifying position of the season after two days of qualifying.
Hull drove the Lescure Funny Car that also debuted support from Sunshine Energy drink on the rear wing to the No. 12 position in the tight 16-car Funny Car field. Nearly 20 Funny Cars were racing to get into the field and Hull was thrilled to get a chance to race today.
“This was such a great weekend for this Jim Dunn Racing and Lescure Funny Car,” said Hull. “We qualified No. 12, which is our best effort this season and we had Sunshine Energy drink on the car. This team has been working so hard. We had an issue with our rear end Saturday morning, and everyone pulled together and got us ready for race day.”
Facing No. 5 qualifier Ron Capps, Hull was hoping for another upset in the first round. The Lescure Funny Car rolled up beside Capps’ Funny Car and both 12,000-horspower nitro powered racecars and both drivers knew they needed to be prepared for tricky track conditions. Throughout the first round of Top Fuel and Funny Car both lanes were littered with tire-smoke filled passes. When Hull it the throttle his Lescure Funny Car took off and almost immediately smoked the tires in the left lane.
“We had a tough first round match-up but there were some upsets in Top Fuel and we felt like we had some momentum from our win in Indy,” said Hull. “This class is crazy tough and we were racing another Countdown competitor. We wanted to start the Countdown with a round win, but things didn’t go our way. The good news is we are going to get right back at it in a few days in Charlotte.”
Throughout the weekend Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team were surrounded by fan support. Saturday Maple Grove Raceway announced a sellout crowd and spectacular weather blessed the facility all three days. Fans spent time on the ropes at the Jim Dunn Racing pit area chatting with Hull as well as members of the Jim Dunn Racing team. The team also hosted several sponsors and some special guests including the friends and family of long-time supporter Rob DiPinto.
“I loved seeing all the fans all weekend,” said Hull. “They were everywhere, and I loved talking with them. The team also got to spend some time with Rob DiPinto’s friends and family to celebrate his life. He was a great supporter of our team and drag racing. The stands were packed on Saturday and today when I was pulling up to the starting line the pit side grandstands looked amazing. The Koretsky family has really done an awesome job with Maple Grove.”
The Countdown will continue from zMax Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, September 20-22, for the Carolina Nationals. Hull and the Lescure Funny Car will be back in action with two qualifying runs on Friday.
This story was originally published on September 16, 2024. 
