NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

After taking over the seat of the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car at the recent Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, Jeff Arend will continue to drive for the veteran team and will wheel its Mooneyes-backed entry at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Coming into Charlotte, Arend is 22nd in the Funny Car standings, 241 points behind leader Ron Capps. Since Arend last drove for Jim Dunn Racing in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, he has raced only sporadically in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.  

Arend has made 26 appearances and 18 starts with one round-win in races in California, Nevada, and Texas. This will be his first race outside those three states since he went to the semifinals for Jim Dunn Racing in Reading in 2014. Arend made his Funny Car debut in 1995 and has a pair of Top 10 finishes to his credit. During his two previous seasons with Jim Dunn Racing, he compiled a 10-44 record.

“I have known ‘Big Jim’ and the Dunns for over 30 years,” said Arend. “Jim is a legend in the sport, and I have major respect for him. I drove for them in 2013 and 2014 and made great performance strides and were even the main spoiler in the 2014 Countdown for the Championship, and ran many 4.0s [elapsed times]. I have continued the relationship with the Dunns for many years and helped as a consultant for lots of races.

“I honestly can’t wait for Charlotte. It came as quite a surprise when I got the call at 10 a.m. Saturday morning in Pomona from Jon [Dunn] asking if I wanted to drive the car in two and a half hours! I said I would, but all my driving gear was in Northern California. Jon and I worked together to borrow some stuff, got fitted in the car, and warmed it up at noon. I got to make two attempts, and we actually got in the show on Q4, but got bumped out by the last car that could. I am usually not happy about not qualifying, but what we did in two hours was nothing short of amazing. Jon Dunn and his family are like family to us. I look forward to making Big Jim and the team proud in Charlotte. They deserve it!”

In his Funny Car career, Arend has four wins and five runner-up finishes to his credit. His last win came in July 2012, when he beat Courtney Force in the final of the Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Chicago. He has also started twice from the No. 1 qualifying position.

As the NHRA celebrates its landmark 75th season in 2026, Jim Dunn Racing is celebrating 76 years of success in drag racing. Jim started drag racing when he was 15 years old, and at 91 years old, he plans to keep going as long as he can. In 2024, Dunn received the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award. He has won some of the sport’s most significant races and has provided driving opportunities for some of the biggest names in the sport.

Jim Dunn Racing is seeking its first berth in a final quad during the four-wide Era. Paul Lee advanced to the second quad in the inaugural four-wide in Charlotte in 2010, and John Hale raced into the second quad during his stint in 2015.