At the recent Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show, we caught up with Buddy Hull, the NHRA Funny Car driver for Jim Dunn Racing. Reflecting on his inaugural full season in 2024, Hull shared insights into his racing journey, future aspirations, and the balancing act of fatherhood.
Hull’s transition from Top Fuel to Funny Car marked a significant milestone in his racing career. Drawing from his early experiences with front-engine fuel altereds and nostalgia Funny Cars, he adapted swiftly to the new challenges.
“There was a whole lot to learn,” Hull remarked, emphasizing the importance of understanding the car’s dynamics and ensuring safety. The season was marked by the integration of new parts, enhancing the car’s tunability and performance. Notably, Hull achieved personal bests, including a 4.010-second elapsed time in Charlotte and a top speed of 320.51 mph in Indianapolis.
Collaborating with the legendary Jim Dunn Racing team, Hull expressed deep respect for the Dunn family’s legacy.
“I love Jim. He means what he says, and he says what he means,” Hull noted, highlighting their shared values and mutual understanding. “There’s nothing like learning from Jim. I mean, Jim has forgotten more than I’ll ever know. He’s been drag racing for 75 years. So what he’s seen and what he’s done is it’s not even duplicatable.”
With an eye on the future, Hull is committed to elevating his performance in the 2025 season. The off-season will focus on refreshing their race cars, including new front halves, tin work, steering, tires, wheels, and plumbing, essentially making them “borderline brand new race cars.”
Additionally, the team is actively seeking new partnerships to bolster their competitive edge.
“We came together and created this synergistic partnership program with our growing racing team. We just had Tillamook come on, so between John and Jim and Diane and Johnna and myself, my wife, we’re working hard to find more partners as well. It’s what these things are powered by money, let’s be real, right?” Hull joked rhetorically.
Beyond the racetrack, Hull embraces the challenges of being a husband, new father, and business owner, confessing that his mindset has changed towards not only racing but everything.
“I’m more motivated to be better at everything, because I want my son to see his dad as a great business owner, a great husband, and a great nitro Funny Car driver,” explained Hull. “For some people I know what happens, it’s like they back off. They’re like, I got a kid now, I want to focus on my kid, and I don’t really care about racing that much, and I don’t really care to work hard. I’ve gone the other direction where I’m like, no, my kid has to see me work my butt off. My kid has to see my business grow. My kid has to see me hold a Wally in nitro Funny Car because that is, even though I may sacrifice a little bit of time with him, the time I’m getting with him is premium but it’s also to see his father win.
‘”That’s what I want my son to do. I want my son to be so busy at age 13 that he doesn’t have time for his dad anymore. I’d be more proud of him doing that because he’s kicking ass in school and playing two sports and mowing lawns than having a kid that isn’t that way. My emotions towards setting a great example for my kid has what’s changed the most. My goals have gone up, not down,” added Hull.
Hull’s journey embodies the spirit of perseverance and passion that defines drag racing. As he gears up for the 2025 season, fans and competitors alike can anticipate a year of achievements from this dedicated driver.
This story was originally published on December 17, 2024. 
