In advance of the 24th Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Funny Car driver Buddy Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team participated in two kick-off events, revving up the tri-city area fans. Hull, a New England Nationals quarterfinalist finisher, participated in the Speedway Children’s Charity Trap Shooting event. Along with fellow NHRA stars Top Fuel racer Ida Zetterstrom, nitro crew chiefs Todd Smith and Jon Schaffer, Hull joined local fans and Speedway Children’s Charity supporters at the annual afternoon event. Hull teamed with the East Tennessee Straight Shooters, members of the high school trapshooting team.
“It was a blast to meet the Straight Shooters and spend some time with these young men,” said Hull. “I love supporting Speedway Children’s Charities. We do events here, Charlotte and Sonoma. They are doing amazing work, and it was a joy to have some fun and raise some funds for that group.”
Later in the day Hull met up with his Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car teammates at a Bristol-area Food City for an autograph session and Funny Car display. The Jim Dunn Racing Mooneyes Funny Car, along with Steve Johnson’s Pro Stock Motorcycle, were on display with representatives from series sponsor Mission Foods. Hull, Johnson, and Funny Car stand out Daniel Wilkerson signed autographs and posed for photos with shoppers and fans inside the main entrance of the Food City. The trio of drivers took turns encouraging shoppers to add Mission Food products to their carts with remarkable success.
“It was a blast to hang out with Dan and Steve at the Food City store promoting Mission Foods and the race,” said Hull. “We are so thankful for the support from Mission Foods at every national event so if we can get out into the community and get their products in some people’s shopping carts, we definitely want to do that. Tons of people came up and got autographs and we went outside for photos too. I know we will see a lot of those people at the races this weekend.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, June 6, at 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and then two more qualifying runs on June 7 at Bristol Dragway. The 16 Funny Cars with the quickest elapsed times after four rounds of qualifying, will advance in competition for a chance to take home a Wally on Sunday, June 8 at 12 p.m. ET with the finals on FSI. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals visit nhra.com.
This story was originally published on June 6, 2025. 
