By: Jim Dunn Racing
CHANDLER, ARIZ. (March 23, 2025) — It’s impossible for every weekend to be a record setting race, and that is most definitely true of this weekend’s NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park. Buddy Hull, the Funny Car driver for Jim Dunn Racing, battled it out against the heat, just like all his fellow Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors. After facing less than ideal conditions all weekend, Hull is eagerly looking a week ahead to the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, March 27-30.
“No one had their best day at this race,” said Hull, a Dallas-based driver. “Everyone struggled a bit, including us. It’s good to keep that in mind, because otherwise it’s very easy to be hard on yourself when you’re dialed into competing at such a high level.”
photo credit Krista Zivcic Photography
After battling through his first three qualifying runs, Hull made his best pass of the weekend during the fourth round of qualifying, with a 4.247 second, 242.23 MPH run, earning him the No. 15 spot going into race day. He was paired against reigning World Champion and No. 2 qualifier, Austin Prock. After staging his car, when Hull hit the gas the clip disconnect came loose on the cable and detached from the throttle, causing him to idle down the racetrack against Prock’s 3.936 second, 324.75 MPH pass.
“I hit the pedal, the blades opened and then they went dead flat when the cable disconnected. They shut right away,” said Hull. “We were dead in the water. I was driving down the track and I saw the throttle cable out there blowing in the wind. The car probably went four to six inches, give or take, and to travel 1000 feet under no power, just idling, still going 60 MPH is incredible. It goes to show you how much power these cars are making.”
Despite the unfortunate circumstance of that clip disconnecting, Hull is very optimistic going into the Winternationals next weekend. He firmly believes the nitro Funny Car is continuing to move in the exact right direction. He also knows that with 18 races left this season, he has plenty of time to regain his Top 10 points position.
“We have a new fuel system, and the car showed a ton of life in Gainesville,” said Hull. “With our tune up being brand new and the challenging conditions here, we couldn’t really ask much more of the car. We have five days off, then we’re right back at it. The team is ready to go. We didn’t hurt a single part all weekend long, so (team owner and crew chief) Jim (Dunn) is fired up. And the projected conditions in Pomona are completely different. We have something special planned for Jim next and we have a special sponsor for the weekend. And we’re super excited to run our first three-second run.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will be back in competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals on March 27-30 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, March 28 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, March 29. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Winternationals visit nhra.com.
Qualifying Results
Q1: 5.949 sec, 114.08 mph; Qual. 12
Q2: 5.477 sec, 133.28 mph; Qual. 17
Q3: 7.093 sec, 93.09 mph; Qual. 17
Q4: 4.247 sec, 242.23 mph; Qual. 15
Bonus Points: 0
Race Results
First Round
Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, (.075), 3.936, 324.75 mph def. Buddy Hull, Dallas, Tex., USD Dodge Charger, (.111), 14.943, 58.78 mph
Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – Funny Car Point Standings
1. Paul Lee 151
2. Jack Beckman 149
3. Bob Tasca III 143
4. Chad Green 139
5. Ron Capps 132
6. Austin Prock 127
7. Matt Hagan 124
8. Alexis DeJoria 107
9. Bobby Bode 87
10. Cruz Pedregon 87
11. J.R. Todd 86
12. Buddy Hull 83
13. Blake Alexander 82
14. Dan Wilkerson 68
15. Dave Richards 41
