TED HULL CHASES AFTER SECOND TRI-CITY DIRT MOD TITLE WITH ANDY PRIEST
by Brian Spaid

April 29, 2005 

   In 2004, Ted Hull finally fulfilled a dream.

   For years, the Oil City car owner toiled in the small block modified divisions on local dirt tracks. First in the old 6 Cylinder Modifieds and then in the Sportsman Modifieds, Hull was a winner. His father, legendary Cal Hull, was the driver for many years before New Castle hotshoe Andy Priest climbed behind the wheel.

   Glory in the DIRT Modified division eluded Hull until last season.

   “I’ve been involved in racing for 27 years, and last year was a pretty big deal,” said Hull. “Everybody was on us about the small block modified thing and that we were just spending more money than the other guys to win. Then, we went to the big block modifieds. First we won races, then we got a title.”

   Big block and small block refer to the engine sizes in the open wheel modified divisions. In general, small block modifieds are considered a low-dollar class because the purses are less than those offered to the big block modified class, which are sanctioned by DIRT MotorSports at Tri-City and Lernerville Speedways. The low-dollar concept is somewhat misleading because nowadays the cost to operate any open wheel modified team, small block or big block, ranges in the thousands of dollars.

   “I remember when we all got started in the 6 Cylinder Modifieds,” recalled Hull. “Dad and I would race against guys like Andy, Kenny Hardy, Lou Gentile and Rodney Beltz. We would swap parts and engines all the time. We’d race all night and we were all friends. With the competition the way it is in the DIRT Modifieds, it can be more cut throat at times.”

   Hull and his father were mainstays in the 6 Cylinder Modifieds and Sportsman Modifieds for years. In 1996, however, the elder Hull started to limit his driving career after some trouble at Hickory Speedway, a tight quarter-mile track near New Castle that is now closed.

   “Dad raced everywhere. Around 1996, he started to get winded racing at Hickory. We decided to put Andy Priest in the car at Hickory while Dad raced it at Sportsman’s Speedway and Tri-City. Dad won the Sportsman Modified title at Tri-City in 1996, and that pretty much ended his career. Dad still works on the car everyday though.”

   With Cal Hull’s retirement, Priest became the driver of Ted Hull’s famed No. 41 racers. And they went on a tear in the Sportsman Modifieds. Priest and Hull won 26 features and one title (1998) at Mercer, and nine features and two titles (2000 and 2001) at Sportsman’s. They also captured four special event wins at Tri-City.

   With victory, however, came accusations of cheating.

   “We got to where we laughed off those claims. Cheating never happened. Andy and I couldn=t cheat because the tech inspectors looked at us too much. They’d come to our garage weekly. They even sealed my motor one time and it was claimed another time. Every single instance, we passed with no trouble.”

   The move to the DIRT Modifieds was a bigger transition for the team in 2002. Due to the cost of the class, Hull dabbled in it a few times during the Sportsman Modified success. Then, in 2002, he focused his attention solely on Tri-City. The first race of that season, Priest won. Heading into 2005, Priest and Hull have eight feature wins under their championship belts.

   “Winning the title last season was extra special for me because my mother, Shirley, died early last year. It seemed like she helped us win. Dad just loved every minute of it.”

   Hull also attracted the attention of a fellow car owner, Vicki Emig. The Mercer owner and promoter wanted to reenter the racing wars full-time and Hull’s racing operation fit the bill.

   “In the Fall of 2003, Vicki came to me and said she’d sponsor my team if we maintained her Sportsman Modified team. She had a rookie driver named Jeff Walters. He didn’t work out and now Andy’s driving the car. So now I have two race cars in the garage. Vicki will continue to help us this season, and she has been great to work with.”

   For 2005, Priest and Hull will continue to race the DIRT Modified No. 41 at Tri-City and on the BRP Modified Tour with a brand new 2005 Dirt Wheels chassis. The championship-winning 2003 Dirt Wheels chassis will be used as the Emig Small Block Modified No. 1. Priest and Hull will compete with that car at selected events throughout the season.

   “We have some untested equipment with the DIRT Modified, but if it runs half as good as it looks, we’re in there.”

   On the track, Hull expects his main nemesis will be Brian Swartzlander. The four-time Tri-City champion is expected to return with a Teo Pro Car chassis. Swartzlander is a local dealer for the well-known DIRT Modified builder, and that connection gives him a distinct edge.

   “Brian will be tough. He came out with that new car at the end of last season and it just flew around the track. He’ll be the one to watch.”

   Regardless of any other driver or team, Hull and Priest are ready for the challenge as they race toward a second track title.