NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Buddy Hull has announced he will not compete at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, March 20-22, at Firebird Motorsports Park, as his team continues to recover and rebuild following their on-track incident two weeks ago in Gainesville.
After an explosive mechanical failure during the event, Hull and his team immediately disassembled the Funny Car to assess the damage and determine next steps. While the team has since secured a replacement body, the time required to properly mount and prepare it for competition will prevent them from making the trip to Phoenix.
“Obviously, this isn’t the news we wanted to share this week,” said Hull. “Any time you have to sit out a race, it’s tough, especially this early in the season. But at the end of the day, making sure everything is right with the car and that our team is safe is what matters most. We’re not going to rush that process. Matt Bynum and the guys are working hard to make sure we return better than ever.”
The team has elaborated on the preparation heading into the Gatornationals. They had the Funny Car fully assembled in November of last season, displayed the Funny Car as part of their FS Performance sponsorship and began finalizing preparations well before the departure for Gainesville.
Hull also provided an update on his condition following the incident. He suffered minor burns to his back and legs but credited his safety equipment for preventing more serious injuries.
“My right hand is healing really well, and I’ve been staying in close contact with the NHRA medical team,” said Hull. “I had some minor burns from the fire, but honestly, my Impact firesuit did its job. It could have been a lot worse, so I’m grateful for that.”
Looking ahead, Hull and his team are already evaluating options for the upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, including the possibility of competing in Top Fuel. With current Top Fuel entry numbers sitting below a full field, Hull noted his desire to support the category while also fulfilling sponsor commitments.
“We’re looking at every option for Pomona right now, including maybe running my Top Fuel dragster,” said Hull. “We’ve got great partners who count on us, and I also want to do my part to help make sure fans are getting full, competitive fields at these events. We’ll make the best decision for everyone involved.”
Despite being sidelined this weekend, Hull will remain engaged with the action.
“I’ll be watching every round on NHRA.tv and cheering on all my competitors,” said Hull. “It sounds like it’s going to be a hot one in Phoenix, so I just hope everyone has a safe weekend out there.”
Hull also took time to thank the outpouring of support from across the racing community.
“The calls, messages, and offers to help from fans, sponsors, and other teams have meant a lot to us,” said Hull. “This sport is a family, and you really see that in moments like this.”
Off the track, Hull remained active with fans, appearing at a major customer event last weekend at Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford in Dallas. His signature FS Performance Ford Mustang was on display as he signed autographs and met with attendees. The team is planning additional activations with the dealership throughout the season.
Hull and his team remain focused on returning to competition as soon as possible, with safety and long-term performance guiding every step of the rebuild process. They will keep the NHRA and their fanbase updated as more decisions are made leading up to the Winternationals. Tickets for the NHRA Arizona Nationals and Winternationals can be purchased at www.nhra.com.
This story was originally published on March 18, 2026. 
