DALLAS (October 12, 2025) — Funny Car driver and Dallas native Buddy Hull was everywhere during the Stampede of Speed, leading up to the 40th Texas NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex. In his last race out of the driver’s seat before he returns to on-track action in the Jim Dunn Funny Car, he could be seen at the Stars of Texas music festival, the annual Champions Dinner, the PreStage Fan Fest and every other event in between. “I am so proud to be living in Texas, and to call the Texas Motorplex my home track,” said Hull. “The Meyer family does a bang-up job putting on the Stampede of Speed, a full 10 days of events that both loyal drag racing fans and people who have never seen a drag strip before can enjoy. Anything I can do to support their mission of growing the sport of drag racing, I will do. This year’s Stampede of Speed was the best yet. They keep raising the bar.” Hull (second from right) enjoyed the Champions Dinner with True Brand’s Crystal Mathews (far left), his wife Madi and True Brand’s Amber Kossak (far right), photo credit Randy CurtisThe Stampede of Speed kicked off with Hull’s personal Funny Car, decked out in the Stampede of Speed livery, participating in the cattle drive in downtown Waxahachie. Hull then attended all three days of the Stars of Texas country music festival, which included a lantern festival, beer expo and more. The Motorplex social media team put him to work engaging with festival goers, encouraging them to come back out for the Texas Fall Nationals the next weekend. “I consider myself an ambassador of this sport,” said Hull. “The music festival allows people to get a small taste of drag racing in between acts with the Texas Invitational, which makes them want to see even more. I appreciate how hard the Motorplex team works to pull this whole thing off.” On the Wednesday before the race, Hull and his wife Madi were guests at the annual Champions Dinner, celebrating 40 years of winners at the Texas Motorplex. The next night, he signed autographs for thousands of fans at the PreStage Fan Fest in Waxahachie. “One of the best parts of the Stampede of Speed is how each event plays a different role,” said Hull. “The Champions Dinner is an intimate affair, celebrating the drivers who make this place so historic. The Fan Fest is an opportunity to engage with fans and get them excited for the race weekend. Both sides of that coin are important and make both the drivers and fans feel seen and appreciated.” During the Fall Nationals, Hull stayed busy entertaining fans on the Nitro Alley Stage, representing True Brand and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and driving the Rodak Cadillac powered by Rodak’s Coffee. He was the perfect chauffeur for the winners of the Battle for the Saddle on Friday night and the race winners on Sunday. “Even though I can’t drive a Nitro Funny Car right now because of my hand, I still want to represent my sponsors well and be useful to the people who support me and my family. I can’t wait to return to the driver’s seat of this Jim Dunn Funny Car. This season has been a journey.” Alex Laughlin, filling in for Hull, qualified in the No. 15 spot after making four solid passes during qualifying. In the first round of eliminations, he left on Ron Capps, before Capps’ car overtook the True Brand Funny Car, making it to the finish line first. Capps then went on to be the event runner-up. |
