DALLAS — NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Buddy Hull will not compete at this weekend’s FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs at Firebird Motorsports Park.
After an explosive mechanical failure during the event at Gainesville (Fla.) Raceway, Hull and his team immediately disassembled the Funny Car to assess the damage and determine next steps. While the team has since secured a replacement body, the time required to properly mount and prepare it for competition will prevent them from making the trip to Phoenix.
“Obviously, this isn’t the news we wanted to share this week,” said Hull. “Anytime you have to sit out a race, it’s tough, especially this early in the season. But at the end of the day, making sure everything is right with the car and that our team is safe is what matters most. We’re not going to rush that process. Matt Bynum and the guys are working hard to make sure we return better than ever.”
The team has elaborated on the preparation heading into the Gatornationals. They had the Funny Car fully assembled in November of last season, displayed the Funny Car as part of their FS Performance sponsorship and began finalizing preparations well before the departure for Gainesville.
Hull also provided an update on his condition following the incident. He suffered minor burns to his back and legs but credited his safety equipment for preventing more serious injuries.
“My right hand is healing really well, and I’ve been staying in close contact with the NHRA medical team,” said Hull. “I had some minor burns from the fire, but honestly, my Impact firesuit did its job. It could have been a lot worse, so I’m grateful for that.”
Looking ahead, Hull and his team are already evaluating options for the upcoming Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, including the possibility of competing in Top Fuel. With current Top Fuel entry numbers sitting below a full field, Hull noted his desire to support the category while also fulfilling sponsor commitments.
“We’re looking at every option for Pomona right now, including maybe running my Top Fuel dragster,” said Hull. “We’ve got great partners who count on us, and I also want to do my part to help make sure fans are getting full, competitive fields at these events. We’ll make the best decision for everyone involved.”
