When you take a racer out of a race car, it doesn’t take long before they start looking for a way back in. For NHRA Funny Car driver and team owner Buddy Hull, that itch is getting scratched this weekend, but in a very different kind of machine.
While his nitro Funny Car program undergoes repairs following a Gatornationals incident, Hull will strap into a nitrous-fed 2006 Ford Mustang for the Clash of the Titans radial race at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas. It’s a temporary switch, but one that keeps Hull doing what he does best, racing.
Hull has been active in NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car competition since 2021, building a reputation as a fan-favorite driver and team owner. But after being sidelined due to damage sustained earlier this season, the downtime has been anything but easy.
“I am going a little crazy not being in a race car as we regroup and rebuild our Nitro Funny Car following our Gatornationals incident,” said Hull. “I was talking about wanting to get back to racing as soon as possible, and the opportunity to drive a kickass nitrous-fed Mustang kind of fell into my lap thanks to my relationship with Sam Pack Ford and FS Performance. Dave puts on great events, and you definitely want to support Texas promoters. This is going to be a really cool experience.”
That opportunity came together quickly, thanks to a network of Texas-based connections and a shared passion for grassroots racing. While Hull is best known for piloting 11,000+ horsepower nitro-burning machines, the radial racing world presents a completely different challenge. The nitrous-huffing 2006 Ford Mustang is no slouch. It previously set the Ultra Street world record at the Battle of the Thrones event at Rockingham Dragway in April 2024 with a blistering 4.419-second pass at 159.86 mph.
Maintained by JD Campbell and the Dynamic Racing Solutions team and owned by WS Energy Services, the Mustang represents one of the most competitive radial platforms in the country.
Xtreme Raceway Park has recently become an NHRA-sanctioned facility, adding another layer of familiarity and professionalism to the event.
“It’s great that Xtreme Raceway Park is part of the NHRA family now so this can all come together,” said Hull. “NHRA facilities have to meet a high standard for racing operations. I am looking forward to mixing it up on Saturday and getting back on a racetrack.”
Even while stepping into a different class of racing, Hull continues to represent the partners that support his NHRA efforts. The Mustang will carry logos from Sam Pack Ford, FS Performance, Gates Belts, Technocraft, Impact, Dynamic Racing Solutions, 360 Wraps, WS Energy Services, Herricks & Campbell Racing, as well as Hull’s own media platforms, including Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull and Drag Race Bracket Bonanza.
A pause in competition can stall momentum, Hull is making sure that doesn’t happen. By jumping into a radial car, he’s staying sharp, staying visible, and staying connected to the sport while his Funny Car program gets back on track.
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