DALLAS (March 2, 2026) — When the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season kicks off at the legendary AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8, at Gainesville Raceway, Buddy Hull will roll into the staging lanes with more momentum, and more pride, than ever before.
The event marks Hull’s third season competing in the ultra-competitive Funny Car category, but more importantly, it signifies his debut as a Funny Car team owner with Hull Racing. The Texas-based driver has spent the offseason building the program from the ground up alongside his wife, Madi, laying the foundation for what he believes will be a breakout year.
“This offseason has been the most meaningful of my career,” said Hull. “Madi and I have poured everything we have into Hull Racing. There were long nights, tough decisions and a lot of faith involved. But standing here now, heading into Gainesville as a team owner, I couldn’t be more excited. We didn’t cut corners. We built this the right way.”
Team owner and Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is excited to get 2026 NHRA season started at Gatornationals, photo credit Innovative Creation Experts
BUDDY HULL MAKING FUNNY CAR TEAM OWNERSHIP DEBUT IN GAINESVILLE
DALLAS (March 2, 2026) — When the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season kicks off at the legendary AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 5-8, at Gainesville Raceway, Buddy Hull will roll into the staging lanes with more momentum, and more pride, than ever before.
The event marks Hull’s third season competing in the ultra-competitive Funny Car category, but more importantly, it signifies his debut as a Funny Car team owner with Hull Racing. The Texas-based driver has spent the offseason building the program from the ground up alongside his wife, Madi, laying the foundation for what he believes will be a breakout year.
“This offseason has been the most meaningful of my career,” said Hull. “Madi and I have poured everything we have into Hull Racing. There were long nights, tough decisions and a lot of faith involved. But standing here now, heading into Gainesville as a team owner, I couldn’t be more excited. We didn’t cut corners. We built this the right way.”
Team owner and Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is excited to get 2026 NHRA season started at Gatornationals, photo credit Innovative Creation Experts
The 2026 Gatornationals once again boasts a stacked Funny Car field, with 19 entries battling for just 16 qualified spots on race day, ensuring that every qualifying pass will count at one of the most historic events in NHRA competition.
“There’s no better place to start this next chapter than Gainesville,” said Hull. “The Gatornationals are iconic. The legends of this sport have won here. To kick off the season at such a prestigious race during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary, knowing we’ve got a strong car and a great team behind us, it fires me up.”
Hull Racing will debut its 2026 livery featuring primary partners FS Performance and Sam Pack Ford, organizations Hull says have been instrumental in bringing the new team to life.
“We’re incredibly proud to represent FS Performance and Sam Pack Ford,” said Hull. “They believe in what we’re building. When partners believe in your vision the way they do, it gives you even more confidence to go out and perform.”
A key part of Hull’s optimism comes from the leadership atop his pit box. Crew chiefs Mike Guger and Matt Bynum will call the shots for the Funny Car in 2026, and Hull has full faith in their ability to deliver. “I have 100 percent confidence in Mike and Matt,” said Hull. “These guys are some of the smartest in this business. They’ve put together a combination that we truly believe can run with anyone in the field. When I strap in, I know I’ve got two crew chiefs who have done their homework and aren’t afraid to push. That gives me all the confidence in the world.”
Before the on-track action begins, Hull will sign autographs and connect with fans at the annual Burnyzz FanFest on Wednesday, March 4, 7-8:30 p.m., where he will appear as a featured driver to help launch race week festivities in Gainesville.
“The Burnyzz FanFest is such a cool way to kick off the Gatornationals,” said Hull. “The fans are the heart of NHRA and getting to spend time with them before we even fire the engines makes the whole weekend even more special.”
With a new team, trusted leadership, committed partners, and unwavering belief in the work done during the offseason, Hull is ready to make a statement at the first race of the 2026 season.
“We’re not here just to participate,” said Hull. “We’re here to compete. We’ve done the work. We’ve built a strong foundation. Now it’s time to show what Hull Racing can do.”
Fans will get the chance to catch up with Hull when he is a guest with NHRA personality Hannah Rickards on the NHRA stage on Friday at 10 a.m. in the middle of the Gatornationals pit area.
The Hull Racing team will be on track for the first time this season with two qualifying runs on Friday, March 6 and then two more qualifying runs on March 7 at Gainesville Raceway. The top 16 quickest Funny Cars will battle it out for the Wally and a special Gatornationals trophy starting on Sunday, March 8 at 10 a.m. ET with the first round of eliminations live on FS1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Gatornationals visit nhra.com.
