LONG BEACH, CA – The stage is set for a historic weekend as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series rolls into zMax Dragway for the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, September 18-21. For the first time ever, the Countdown to the Championship will feature a four-wide event, and Jim Dunn Racing is ready to be a part of the history-making weekend while continuing to celebrate the team’s 75th anniversary in drag racing.

Although Buddy Hull is still sidelined with a left-hand injury sustained at the Denso Sonoma Nationals, the energy around the team remains strong. Alex Laughlin will drive the Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car for the third consecutive race, with Blaze returning as the primary sponsor for the fifth time this season. The accomplished multi-category driver has quickly acclimated to driving a 12,000-horsepower nitro Funny Car again. Over the past two races subbing for Hull, Laughlin has recorded multiple 300 mph plus speeds and handled several tricky situations on the track. At the recent U.S. National Laughlin avoided sure disaster when Justin Schrieffer crossed the centerline in front of Laughlin at nearly 300 mph. His skill in avoiding a serious on-track incident was recognized by everyone in the sport.

“Alex and I are ready to represent the great people at Blaze this weekend,” said Hull. “This fiery livery is one of my all-time favorites, it just looks so good going down that track. I’m disappointed that I won’t be the one in the seat, but my hand is continuing to make small strides in the right direction.” Continue reading →

READING, PA – Fan favorite driver, Buddy Hull, the nitro Funny Car driver for Jim Dunn Racing, had another busy weekend at the racetrack despite not being the person in the seat at the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway. Hull is still recovering from the left-hand injury he picked up in Sonoma, and in the meantime, Alex Laughlin is filling in for him. While Hull’s hand may be injured, his dazzling personality is still fully intact. He entertained fans over the weekend during visits to the Nitro Club in Maple Grove Tower, did a stint in the PA booth with Jason Galvin and Courtney Enders and he filmed episodes of his hit show, Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull.

“Obviously my favorite place to be at the racetrack is inside the Jim Dunn Racing Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car,” said Hull. “But I am having to exercise an extreme amount of patience as my hand slowly but surely recovers. You don’t realize how much goes on in that part of your body until you hurt it, and it doesn’t bounce back right away. My grip strength and the feeling in my thumb still has a way to go before I can safely manhandle a Funny Car. But the support of the fans and the NHRA community finding ways to keep me still heavily involved, is what’s giving me a positive outlook on the situation.” Continue reading →

LONG BEACH, CA – Jim Dunn Racing is set to return to Maple Grove Raceway for the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish, September 11-14, with a fiery look and a full schedule of fan engagement as the Countdown to the Championship kicks off. They will deliver a one-two punch with Buddy Hull and Alex Laughlin representing the team and sponsors.

The team, celebrating its 75th anniversary this season, will once again showcase its eye-catching Blaze Exhaust Probes livery for the fourth time in 2025. While Buddy Hull, the second-year Funny Car driver, remains sidelined with a left-hand injury sustained at the DENSO Sonoma Nationals in late July, the team will continue to push forward under the NHRA’s medical replacement policy.

For the second consecutive race, Alex Laughlin will pilot the Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car, bringing with him strong backing from Lincoln Welders and a proven ability to step in under high-pressure circumstances. Laughlin will look to carry momentum into Reading as Buddy Hull and Jim Dunn Racing begins their Countdown campaign. Continue reading →

INDIANAPOLIS  – Drag racing is first and foremost a family sport, and that was never more evident for NHRA driver Buddy Hull than this weekend at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Hull was out of the driver’s seat of the Jim Dunn Racing Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car while he continues to recover from a left-hand injury that he obtained at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals a few weeks ago. But the Hull family still left victorious after son, Maverick, won the Baby Walker Nationals and Hull qualified for the Countdown.

“Highlights from the marathon that is Indy include still being able to meet with some of our partners and entertain fans,” said Hull. “The biggest thing for me, obviously, was my son. Maverick winning the Baby Walker Nationals was so cool. I’ll be able to tell him, he won at the U.S. Nationals before me. That sets me up in a place where I have to make sure I win some day.”

Maverick was up against Noah Alexander (Blake Alexander’s son), Tripp Coughlin (Troy Coughlin Jr.’s son), Harper Torrence (Steve Torrence’s daughter) and Dominic Stewart (Tony Stewart and Leah Pruett’s son). From the jump, Maverick was off the starting line first, where he surged forward, diagonally, jumping a few lanes. Despite this causing him to have to walk further than all of his competitors, he was the first to the finish line, focused on the goal while his competitors dawdled behind him. Continue reading →

BRAINERD, MN – On Friday morning Jim Dunn Racing announced Jim Campbell would be racing the Menards Funny Car in place of permanent driver Buddy Hull who was recovering from an injury to his left hand suffered at the Sonoma Nationals. Hull had headlined a sponsor appearance at Menards in Baxter, Minnesota the night before beside team owner and NHRA Hall of Famer Jim Dunn. The Menards Funny Car was on display with Hull and Dunn meeting fans and posing for photos for nearly two hours on the eve of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. Hull knew he would not be racing but was still fully engaged with the fans and his obligations as the principal driver for Jim Dunn Racing.

“These race cars are unpredictable, and everyone is pushing them to the performance edge,” said Hull. “The Sonoma injuries were a little more significant than we originally thought but I am on the road to recovery. I am doing all the rehab the doctors are prescribing, and we will see where we are in a couple weeks. I am encouraged by the improvements I am seeing but it is just going to take some time. Spending the evening at Menards with the fans and Big Jim was some good medicine.” Continue reading →

BRAINERD, MN – Erring on the side of caution to allow permanent driver Buddy Hull’s left hand to continue to heal, Jim Dunn Racing decided today to ask veteran Funny Car driver Jim Campbell to drive the Menards Funny Car this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway. The move is temporary, and Jim Dunn Racing and Hull will continue to evaluate Hull’s readiness to drive following an on-track incident in Sonoma two weeks ago that injured his left hand. Campbell will be earning points for Hull under the medical portion of the driver replacement policy.

“Everyone at Jim Dunn Racing is expecting a speedy recovery for Buddy,” said Jon Dunn. “Buddy has been doing everything in his power to get back into the race car, but we just ran out of time. We appreciate Jim Campbell being available on short notice to drive the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car this weekend at the Lucas Oil Nationals.”

Hull flew into Brainerd yesterday and spent time with fans at a local Menards store last night signing autographs and posing for photos. He was joined at the appearance by Hall of Fame team owner and crew chief Jim Dunn. Continue reading →

SONOMA, CA – For the second race in a row Funny Car driver Buddy Hull experienced the scariest side of professional drag racing. On Saturday during the final qualifying session driving the Jim Dunn Racing Lescure Funny Car Hull was on his way to a solid pass when the motor exploded in front of the second year Funny Car driver. Hull was just along for the ride as the body buckled in spectacular fashion, raced into the sand trap and finally came to rest in the retaining net at the end of Sonoma Raceway. Hull suffered a puncture injury to his left hand that required four stitches, but the former Top Fuel driver escaped serious injury. Hull was bumped out of the qualified field two pairs later when Alexis DeJoria raced into the field, putting Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car on the outside of the qualified field in the seventeenth position.

“I would have liked to have held onto that 16th spot in the field but there would have been no way for us to race today,” said Hull, one of the most popular drivers on the tour. “This Jim Dunn Racing team has been battling putting this car together after a tough race last week in Seattle. I want to thank Safety Safari for getting me out of the car and I appreciate my safety equipment doing its job. Crashes like that remind you how dangerous this sport is.” Continue reading →