Buddy Hull Powers Into Second Straight Thunder Valley Nationals Quarterfinal

Buddy Hull continues to build momentum in his sophomore Funny Car season, making it to the quarterfinals for the second race in a row at the Thunder Valley Nationals.

Racing for Jim Dunn Racing, Hull lined up in the Mooneyes Funny Car and again delivered an impressive first-round upset, defeating top qualifier and defending World Champion Austin Prock at Bristol Dragway.

This was Hull’s third trip to the quarterfinals this year, demonstrating progress and consistency for both him and the team.

Hull started his race day in the No. 16 spot after a tough round of qualifying.

Unpredictable weather made it hard to get a good run earlier in the weekend. However, the team found a tune-up that worked, helping Hull take down Austin Prock and John Force Racing for the second week in a row.

In Hull’s words, “We come out here to win. If we didn’t believe we have a chance at winning, we wouldn’t even show up.” After the win, he shared that Big Jim Dunn made a big change to the clutch setup and went back to “old school,” which worked well in the team’s special 75th anniversary Mooneyes car.

The momentum carried Hull into the second round, where he faced Paul Lee, the No. 8 qualifier. The run looked promising until a parachute problem in the shutdown area.

The chutes did not launch as expected, sending Hull into the sand trap at the end of the track. He was unharmed and quickly exited the car.

The run itself was Hull’s fastest of the weekend, clocking in at 4.269 seconds and 279.96 mph. Despite the abrupt ending, Hull said he had checked the levers multiple times and was surprised by the malfunction.

The team will review videos and data to find the issue before the next event. With two weeks before the Virginia NHRA Nationals, Hull and his crew have already decided to prepare a brand new car currently in Indianapolis.

Hull mentioned, “Luckily, we have a new car. It’s in Indy right now. We’re going to have to hop to it and get that thing together, because there’s not enough time to fix this car.” The plan is to have it ready and dialed in when they roll into Richmond for the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals.

The Virginia event, set for June 20-22 at Virginia Motorsports Park, will offer three qualifying sessions. Hull and Jim Dunn Racing are aiming to maintain their performance and continue advancing in the rounds.

Their recent success shows what consistent teamwork and quick adaptability can achieve, even when faced with tough conditions and unexpected mechanical issues.

Hull’s steady progress and his team’s resilience highlight their commitment as they enter the busy summer stretch.

Fans and competitors will be watching as he attempts to make his third consecutive quarterfinal appearance and push even further up the standings.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.