Wilkerson Has New Car Ready Just In Time For Norwalk
Posted by: Nicole Erickson
Bristol, Tenn (June 21, 2016) – Tim Wilkerson will have his new Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang back in action at the 2016 NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio this weekend. And as the saying goes, it could not have come at a better time.
At the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, Tim Wilkerson qualified thirteenth with a 4.236/266.16 run. He struggled to make a clean pass in his old Ford Shelby Mustang on loan from its new owner, Brian Stewart.
In the first round of eliminations against Matt Hagan, a malfunction in the drivetrain about 400 feet from the starting line caused Wilkerson’s motor to over-rev and explode. Hagan took the win over Wilkerson, 3.945/309.40 to 4.614/176.12.
“Inside the car when the explosion happened wasn’t too bad; I have seen worse,” Wilkerson said. “It was easy on me, but poor Bessie. Everything bolted inside the car was damaged.”
Wilkerson and his crew have spent every spare moment in the last month working to fix his new car to get it ready for competition. It was damaged at the Topeka race in May when a still unidentified malfunction sent the car crashing into the wall.
In the last month, Murf McKinney and his crew replaced the front half of the damaged chassis and mount a new body on the car, as the other one was damaged beyond repair.
“The crew has gone over every nut and bolt from the rear end to the front axle to make sure nothing has been overlooked,” Wilkerson said.
The car will also be sporting a slightly different look in Norwalk to show thanks and appreciation to longtime sponsor and supporter, Rottler.
“We need to start an upward trend again in Norwalk,” Wilkerson said. “We were sure going the wrong way the last three races. Those kinds of catastrophes have an effect on a team, but we’re going to buckle in and get it fixed.”
Wilkerson is currently sixth in the NHRA Funny Car point standings heading into Norwalk.
Something new for NHRA Fans this week, the first two rounds of the NHRA Summit Racing Equipment Nationals will be shown LIVE on Sunday from 11:00 to 1:30 p.m. on FS1.
Schedule
Friday, June 24: 5:45 & 8:30 p.m. (E.T.)
Saturday, June 25: 1:15 & 4:00 p.m. (E.T.)
Sunday, June 26: Pro eliminations begin at 11:00
Qualifying
June 24 - 8:00pm-9:00pm (FS1)
June 25 - 7:00pm-8:00pm (FS1)
Eliminations
June 26 - 11:00am-1:30pm (FS1) LIVE
June 26 - 6:30pm-9:30pm (FS2)
June 27 - 12:00am - 3:00am (FS1)
Follow Tim Wilkerson Racing on Social Media:
Twitter: @TimWilkerson_FC
Facebook.com/timwilkersonracing
Instagram: @TimWilkersonRacing