NORWALK, OH. (June 29, 2025) — The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals marked the second race that Buddy Hull and Jim Dunn Racing put their new nitro Funny Car to the test. It was another scorcher of a weekend, where 21 Funny Cars were competing for 16 spots on Sunday. After four solid qualifying runs made on Friday and Saturday, Hull made it safely into the field in the No. 16 spot.
“We have a brand-new Funny Car and we are making great strides with it,” said Hull. “This Jim Dunn Racing crew is working incredibly hard on and off the track. I think we will be in a great spot heading into the rest of the summer and the Countdown. I am continuing to get comfortable in this new car.”
Buddy Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car had a strong showing at Summit Motorsports Park, photo credit Innovative Creative Experts
Every single run that Hull made over the course of the weekend was in the 4-second range that the Jim Dunn Racing team is familiar with. Hull’s best pass came during the Q2 night run on Friday, when the track was at its coolest. He made a 4.127 second, 275.67 mph pass that secured the team in the show. While other cars competing were experiencing wide swings in ET due to the heat, Hull’s Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car was one of the most consistent cars all weekend.
“This heat continues to be a killer, but at the very least it’s a bit of a great equalizer in the sense that we are all having to deal with it,” said Hull. “As an athlete, I made sure I was ready to go every run by staying hydrated all weekend. I always want to make sure I’m performing at my best for the guys and doing my job.”
In the first round, Hull was up against No. 1 qualifier Cruz Pedregon. Hull has beaten the No. 1 qualifier twice this season, proving that as long as you’re able to qualify in the Top 16, it can be anyone’s game. This was the first time Hull had faced Pedregon in eliminations. Unfortunately, in their first matchup, Pedregon was able to get around Hull.
“That right lane was just tough for all the Funny Cars,” said Hull. “I think everyone smoked the tires at about the same spot. Jim and Jon [Dunn] had a great tune up that I think would have been a 4.09 or 4.10 second run. Cruz made a good run but we could have been right there with him.”
Even though he had an early exit on Sunday, Hull is thankful for the experience of his third Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals because it gave him the opportunity to try new things like competing in a Pro/Am Hot Saw competition.
“This race was amazing because of the Bader family and how much they care about putting on a great show for the fans. It’s a testament to their work that we still had so many people at the track even with the heat,” said Hull. “We had the Hot Saw competition and so many other fan-centric events. This was a great event for the fans, and I am so glad we got to see so many of them. We had people at our ropes all weekend.”
Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team will be back in competition at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals on July 18-20 at Pacific Raceways. There will be two qualifying sessions on Friday, July 18 and two qualifying sessions on Saturday, July 19. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Northwest Nationals visit nhra.com.
