NHRA veteran Buddy Hull speaks on the challenges of being a part-time NHRA driver, and how he’s helping the next generation of NHRA drivers.
Halfway through the 2023 NHRA season, top fuel driver Buddy Hull is on a mission. Though currently in his third year behind the wheel of a top fuel dragster, he is certainly no newcomer to the sport, having been licensed for NHRA competition for 15 years.
While still on a part-time schedule, Buddy says he would love to run the full tour, should the funding become available.
His next race for this season will be at the Menards NHRA Nationals at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas in just under a month. After that, he’ll make trips to Columbus, Indianapolis, and St. Louis before rounding his season out at the Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex, his home track.
One Of the Sports’ Great Cheerleaders
When he’s not behind the wheel of his car, Buddy is a great cheerleader for his team and a great spokesman for the sport. No matter the results of the weekend, he is quick to praise his crew chief and crew members for their work and always has a positive attitude. He goes out of his way to spend time with fans, making everyone he comes in contact with feel like they are more like family than anything.
Buddy Hull Pushing For A Bright Future
Buddy also believes strongly in the future of NHRA drag racing, as is evident in his backing of Jr. Dragster driver Jordan Dodson.
“All team owners and drivers need to start looking for future talent at the junior level,” he said this weekend while he and his team were in Morrison, Colorado for the NHRA Mile-High Nationals. “Finding new talent and creating opportunities is a must.”
Creating opportunities is something Hull is very familiar with. He originally rented a dragster from fellow driver Terry Haddock before purchasing his own team. He even goes so far as to help with financial backing for Jordan Dodson Motorsports, including funding their trip to places like Bristol for the Eastern Conference Finals.
Competition in the NHRA has changed quite a bit over the years, and Buddy understands the changes well. When asked about what the sport will look like in the coming years, he was quick to point out the effect the economic and political climate has had on the sport, but he remains optimistic that there is a bright future ahead.
Whatever that future looks like, Buddy wants to be a part of it.
Part-time racers have always been an important part of drag racing, and often make as big of an impact on race weekends as the larger teams. It is one of the things that make the NHRA unique to other forms of motorsport.
It’s been said that a person’s impact may not be seen for a generation or more. Buddy Hull is certainly one of the bright stars of the present, but he is also a champion for the stars of the future.
