Sometimes the best way to treat a less-than-ideal race weekend is to use it as motivation for the next one. For rookie Funny Car driver Buddy Hull, he’ll be taking the lessons he learned during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn. to the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in a couple of weeks.
“Every once and a while, things just don’t click,” said Hull. “The Jim Dunn Racing team is still working through some new parts, and I’m working on getting my lights a little better. I’m normally more consistent than I was this weekend, but it’s evidence that there is always more we can be doing to improve. We’re going to take these next couple of weeks before Indy to get better.”
This was Hull’s first appearance at Brainerd International Raceway, and he knows it will not be his last. During qualifying, Hull made four passes with his final run being his best, at 4.815 seconds and 181.45 mph.
“This weekend is a blip in our stream of a consistently improving season,” said Hull. “I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but progress is not completely linear. Now that most races have four qualifying sessions, it means our team is able to collect a lot of data. And one of the things I’m most looking forward to in Indy is that there will be five qualifying runs, which is even better. Every time I make a run down the track, I learn a little more and improve as a Funny Car driver in the long run.”
Hull is going to have a busy two weeks leading up to the U.S. Nationals. On Tuesday, August 20 he will be throwing out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers versus Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. And on Monday, August 26 Hull will turn 44 years old and his wife, Madi, will give birth to their first child, a son named Maverick.
“Realistically I can’t think of how these next two weeks could be any crazier than they already are,” said Hull. “There was a time in my life where racing at the U.S. Nationals would be the most exciting part of my August, and now that’s just the finale in what will be one of the best days of my life. Even with all of this going on, I’m lucky that I’ve always been someone who can compartmentalize. I’m confident that I will still be ready to rock and roll by the time we get to the Big Go.”
Given how exciting his personal life is this season, Hull is even more grateful for the support of everyone at Jim Dunn Racing and their sponsors.
“Big Jim and the rest of the Dunn family have truly become family to Madi and I this season,” said Hull. “I’m a blessed man to be surrounded by such great people, both on and off the track. They have been incredibly patient with me as I have made the transition this year from Top Fuel to Funny Car, and I plan to repay their effort with a record setting performance in Indy in a couple of weeks.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will be back on the track for the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals on August 28-September 2 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. There will be one qualifying session on Friday, August 30, two qualifying sessions on Saturday, August 31 and two qualifying sessions on Sunday, September 1. For tickets or more information on the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals visit nhra.com.
This story was originally published on August 19, 2024. 
