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Success in drag racing requires a well-mixed cocktail. Proper parts and pieces, a capable crew, a strong driver, and an apt and ever-learning crew chief are all required for long-term progress and performance. Buddy Hull assembled all of those things as he gained entrance into the Top Fuel ranks prior to the 2023 season of NHRA's Camping World Drag Racing Series, including tapping veteran tuner Mike Guger as his crew chief. The duo have not yet experienced the level of success that they're both after with the Renegade Race Fuels/Methanol Moonshine Top Fuel dragster, but they're steadily gaining ground and keeping their eyes pointed ahead along the way.

"This is one of the hardest things I have ever done but it is also one of the most satisfying," said Hull, who is competing in his fifth Top Fuel event of the season this weekend at the 34th annual Menards NHRA Nationals at Topeka's Heartland Motorsports Park. "We had some mechanical issues that really had us scratching our heads at the start of the season, but we got those sorted out after Chicago, and we had a great race in Denver. We ran really well there, and most importantly we didn't hurt any parts. I have to thank my crew chief for really putting in some long hours to get this car where it needs to be. I'm very comfortable in the racecar and Mike has a solid tune-up, so we're excited to really see what we can do."

Hull started the season in Phoenix and qualified in the No. 13 position on a 3.89, and after a stumble in Chicago that resulted in a non-qualifying effort, he rebounded in Las Vegas to lay down a season best 3.859, 313.80. In Denver, the team made a series of smooth passes that allowed effective accumulation of information.

(Photo: Ron Lewis)

Guger's tenor in motorsports reaches back over five decades. Born in Cleveland, he and his family were replanted in California due to his father's job, and through location and luck, Guger was introduced to the world of drag racing. He first began working on cars in 1970 at just 13 years old, and things really started rolling when a drag racing neighbor invited him to the races. A handful of years later, Guger met legendary tuner Dale Armstrong. He learned the basics of the sport under Armstrong's tutelage during Hall of Famer Kenny Bernstein's dominating seasons and worked as crew chief for Larry Dixon and Leah Pruett in 2015 and 2016.

Guger brings a ton of experience to the table despite having been out of racing for a span of years, and he's been devoted to keeping up with the evolution of the sport and continuing to learn and grow, all while maintaining a career in the precision sheet metal and CNC field. He now resides in Leander, Texas, near Austin, and logs full-time days at Integrated Metal Products. With the support of IMP's owner, Robert Mills, Guger works four 10-hour shifts a week, then is in Hull's shop with his head down Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

"Ever since I [last] raced, I've wanted to do this – but the opportunity hasn't been there," said Guger, who sat down with Dallas businessman Hull ahead of this season and put together a plan to work together. "It seemed like a pretty sweet deal to me. We don't have a lot of data, but all the parts are really good, front-line stuff, the same as everybody else has, so the potential is there. It's just up to me to steer it in the right direction – and I have Buddy's support, 110%.

"There have been times I haven't been happy with how things have gone, and it wasn't due to anybody but me. In a lot of ways, things haven't changed much – but they really have. I feel like I was a little behind the curve on a couple things, but we're improving. I love it and I'm happy to be here. These guys put their heart and soul into this, and I want to give them good time slips." 

Although Guger is humble, Hull reinforces his crew chief's progress and efforts, and he has his sights firmly set on the future with Guger at the helm.

"No one is looking past Topeka, but we are looking to get a lot of things squared away this weekend so we can have a great event in Indy," said Hull, referencing the upcoming Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the team's next scheduled race. 

"The info we got in Denver will hopefully continue to improve in Topeka. We would love to be a Cinderella story at the biggest race of the year."