Tim Wilkerson Optimistic Heading Into The Last Two Races Of 2016
Posted by: Nicole Erickson
Ennis, TX (October 18, 2016) – Tim Wilkerson left the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals smiling and optimistic, despite a first round loss at the Texas Motorplex this past weekend.
The very first qualifying run put Wilkeron’s Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang in the Funny Car field with a 3.919 elapsed time at 322.19 mph. He went on to make two more sub-four second runs in qualifying. In the end, Wilkerson landed in the No. 10 qualifying position for the weekend.
He faced off against Ron Capps in Round One of eliminations. The pair had almost identical reaction times - .089 to .085 seconds - but Wilkerson smoked the tires around the 200 foot mark and Capps took the win, 3.859/325.92 to 5.278/147.04.
“We were just a little too fast leaving the starting line. I just can’t get to the back side of that problem for some reason; I’m just too aggressive,” Wilkerson said.
“I would give us a B – minus until I got to elimination rounds this weekend. We had a little problem with the night run when the track was really, really good, then figured out what we did there. But then it kept spitting blower belts off of it,” Wilkerson said.
Only two races remain for the team in the 2016 season. Next up is the NHRA Toyota Nationals, October 27-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“It’s been a long year and the guys are still being diligent about their job and about their abilities and I’m real proud of them,” Wilkerson said. “We’re still seeing the thing go out there and it’s not doing anything wrong, so that makes me proud. I’m optimistic we can have something for our competitors in Vegas.”
Wilkerson is currently ninth in the Funny Car points standings.