NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

NHRA Funny Car driver Buddy Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team are gearing up for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, Aug. 14-17, with a bold new look and plenty of fan engagement.

The 75th anniversary Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car will sport a striking yellow and black Menards livery for the weekend, celebrating a longstanding partnership between Menards and Jim Dunn Racing that spans more than a dozen years.

As part of the race-week festivities, Hall of Famer Jim Dunn and Hull will make a special appearance at a local Menards store on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m., meeting fans, signing autographs, and showcasing the team’s connection with the well-known home improvement retailer. Menards operates 351 stores across 15 Midwestern states, serving millions of customers with the same hometown pride it brings to the dragstrip.

“This Menards car looks amazing, and I’m honored to represent a brand that has been such a loyal supporter of Jim Dunn Racing,” said Hull. “We’re going to Brainerd with a lot to prove, and I’m ready to fight for every round. The fans up here are some of the best in the NHRA, and I can’t wait to see them both at the track and at the Menards appearance on Thursday.”

The Brainerd race marks the 13th stop of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and serves as the second-to-last event before the start of the Countdown to the Championship. With the pressure building, Hull and the Jim Dunn Racing team are ready to push hard as they continue celebrating the team’s 75th anniversary season, honoring the legacy of legendary team owner Jim Dunn.

“One of the best parts of celebrating 75 years of Jim Dunn Racing this year has been doing it alongside our incredible partners,” said Hull. “Everyone from the fans to the other teams at the track to our sponsors recognizes what an achievement it is to be competitive in this sport for so long.”

Hull is also entering Brainerd with an extra layer of determination. Just a few weeks ago at the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge, he sustained injuries to his left hand after an explosion and a trip into the sand trap during qualifying. While still healing, Hull is set on climbing back into the driver’s seat and putting on a show for fans in Brainerd. This show includes leading New Fan Orientation on the NHRA Stage on Friday at 1:30 p.m.

“Anytime I can interact with NHRA fans, I am going to take it,” said Hull. “I appreciate the NHRA for putting more of an emphasis this year on bringing engaging interviews, Q&As, and Nitro School sessions to the NHRA Stage platform. It’s better for our fans to be more informed, and better for the drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners when we can enunciate what we do.”

In addition to Menards, this weekend Hull will also be repping season-long sponsors Blaze Exhaust Probes, Lescure Mechanical Services, KGC Construction, Mooneyes, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Crow Safety, Koppl Pipeline Services, True Brand, USD, Wiley X, and Compass Facility Services.

The Buddy Hull and Jim Dunn Menards appearance will be on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Menards store located at 15236 Dellwood Dr., Baxter, MN 56401.