BUDDY HULL AND JIM DUNN RACING THUNDER INTO BRISTOL WITH MOONEYES ON DISPLAY AT FOOD CITY

By: Jim Dunn Racing

LONG BEACH, CA (June 4, 2025) — With confidence, horsepower, and momentum on his side, Funny Car driver Buddy Hull and Jim Dunn Racing are charging into this weekend’s Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, June 6-8, ready to make more noise in the ultra-competitive NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
 
Fresh off a stellar performance at the NHRA New England Nationals, Hull turned heads and proved once again why he’s one of the most exciting drivers to watch in the class. Driving the Mooneyes Nitro Funny Car, Hull powered past No. 1 qualifier Austin Prock in a thrilling first-round upset and advanced to the quarterfinals, putting down competitive passes and showcasing his growing command of the 12,000-horsepower machine.
 
“The car was strong, I felt locked in, and we came out of New England with a lot to be proud of,” said Hull. “Beating the No. 1 qualifier is never easy, but it shows that this team has what it takes to run with the best. We’re not done yet.”

As Hull returns to the iconic Thunder Valley at Bristol Dragway, the Jim Dunn Racing team will roll out their special Mooneyes 75th Anniversary livery for its last appearance before its return at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at the end of this season. The striking yellow-and-black design is a fan favorite and a perfect visual match for Hull’s bold and relentless driving style. Longtime sponsor Compass Facility Services (CFS) will also once again be highlighted on the back wing of the car. This will be fans’ last chance to get Mooneyes merch from their traveling merchandise trailer until the Pomona race.
 
“This Mooneyes car just feels electric,” said Hull. “The fans love it, we love it, and there’s something special about running it here in Bristol. We want to give everyone one more great memory before it takes a break until Pomona. Fans can even have a souvenir from the race, by grabbing one of our custom hero cards for the event.”
 
Hull’s recent performances are a testament to his continued evolution as a top-tier Funny Car driver. With each round, he’s sharpening his instincts, building chemistry with the team, and proving that Jim Dunn Racing is a force to be reckoned with.
 
“Now it’s just about fine tuning my skills in this car. I’m comfortable, I’m keeping it straight, I can pedal it,” said Hull. “In my mind, the runs have gotten really slow. Jim and I, we communicate a lot. I challenge myself with telling him that the car did this at this location on the racetrack, and I’m always spot on or really close. The more runs you make in the car, and the more you pay attention, and the more you get serious about becoming a better race car driver, it makes a difference.”
 
The Thunder Valley Nationals is the second race of the season to be a back-to-back race. Hull loves the energy you can set in motion when there’s no off-weekend.
 
“I wish we raced every weekend. I wish we could do three weeks on and one week off, because it’s a momentum thing,” said Hull. “It may not seem like every other weekend is time off, but it’s all about getting into a groove. We’re excited. We’ll go home for a couple days, rest up, regroup, come back and be ready. That’s for sure.”
 
On the Thursday at 1 p.m. leading up to the race, Hull will be participating in a Speedway Children’s Charity Trap Shooting event. Later in the day, from 3-5 p.m., he will then be signing autographs for fans at a Mission Foods autograph session at Food City (1921 Highway 394, Blountville, TN). The Mooneyes Funny Car will be on display at this event for fans to be able to look at up close and pose for pictures.
 
In addition to Mooneyes and CFS, Hull will also be repping season-long sponsors Lescure Mechanical Services, Blaze Exhaust Probes, KGC Construction, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Crow Safety, Koppl Pipeline Services, True Brand, USD and Wiley X.
 
“I’m excited to get out to Bristol and get to experience the sound of Nitro Funny Cars echoing in the mountains,” said Hull. “This is one of the most unique venues we have on tour, and it’s impossible not to love it. We’re chasing high speeds and loud volume this weekend.”
 
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, June 6 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.