NHRA Funny Car driver Buddy Hull is making his long-awaited return to competition after being sidelined for more than two months. Hull will climb back behind the wheel of the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car at the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hull’s comeback comes after a crash at the Sonoma Nationals in late July left him with a serious injury to his left hand. The Dallas-based driver has spent the past ten weeks in physical and occupational therapy, determined to return before the end of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

“First I want to thank Alex for stepping in and keeping the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car on track while I have been healing and rehabbing,” said Hull. “I have been doing my best to stay active at the track but there is no substitute for the 320 mph rush of racing for Big Jim Dunn. I want to finish our 75th season strong and I thank all our fans who have reached out with well wishes and support over the past few months.”

Laughlin has handled driving duties during Hull’s recovery, but the plan has always been for Hull to close out the season in the seat. He’ll race in Las Vegas and again at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals in Pomona, where the Southern California-based team will celebrate the end of its 75th anniversary season.

“To be able to be the driver Jim Dunn Racing has been incredible and I wanted to get back in the Funny Car as soon as possible so I could close out the season in Pomona,” said Hull. “Jim Dunn Racing has so much history in Pomona and across Southern California I am honored to be back behind the wheel.”

Hull’s return adds another storyline to an already stacked Countdown to the Championship field. For a driver who’s earned respect for his grit and determination, the Las Vegas round isn’t just another race, it’s a comeback nearly three months in the making.