Wilkerson in the hunt for first Bristol trophy
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
SPRINGFIELD, IL (June 14, 2017) – This weekend, NHRA's Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues with the third event of four in a row on a strenuous stretch to start the summer. The trip to Bristol Dragway for the 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will provide Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson the opportunity to win at the pristine facility for the first time in his career. Wilkerson, a 20-time nitro Funny Car winner on the NHRA tour, has only four active racetracks where he has yet to claim victory in the category.
Last season at Bristol Dragway, the cards did not fall in Wilkerson's favor. Starting from the No. 13 position and exiting in the first round is a memory that the amiable yet exceedingly focused driver would just as soon forget. He is still looking for his first win of 2017, and in moments this season, Wilkerson and Team LRS have seen great power that comes with great promise. He and his determined, carefully selected crew know it's coming; it's just a matter of getting all their ducks in a row.
For Wilkerson, that means switching to their back-up car ahead of the Thunder Valley Nationals.
"I think our car was bent or maimed, somehow, so I've already talked to [car builder] Murf McKinney. He has a brand new car for me, it's just not quite done. This one [the car Wilkerson drove in Englishtown last week] is doing things I don't think it should do," said Wilkerson, who made two sub 4-second runs in qualifying at Englishtown but battled a blazing racetrack and argumentative clutch the remainder of the weekend.
This weekend will also be Father's Day, and on Sunday, team owner, driver, and tuner Wilkerson would like to win for more reason than one.
"Maybe we can win one for my dad, and I can call him and tell him Happy Father's Day from the winner's circle," said Wilkerson, who is a father of three grown children, himself. "Roy is 91 now, and I think it would be really neat to do that for him. It's going to be a special day no matter what – I'm a grandfather now, and more importantly it's my son, Daniel's, first Father's Day. It's a great time for our family, and it would be nice to get that trophy."
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**Full results posted throughout the weekend at DragRaceCentral.com**
Wilkerson in Bristol
- 2 final rounds
- Runner-up 2014 (Tommy Johnson Jr.)
- Runner-up 2010 (John Force)
- Last year: Qualified No. 13, lost in the first round to Matt Hagan
Updated Career Stats heading into Bristol, race 11 of 24
- No. 9 in Funny Car standings
- 454 races
- 20 wins
- 18 runner-up finishes
- 38 overall final rounds
- 18 No. 1 qualifier awards
- Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
- Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
Race Info
17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals
Bristol Dragway
Bristol, Tennessee
June 16-18, 2017
Run Schedule (all times ET)
- Friday, June 16
- 10:00 am - Sportsman eliminations
- 5:00 pm - Pro qualifying session 1
- 7:30 pm - Pro qualifying session 2
- Saturday, June 17
- 8:00 am - Sportsman eliminations
- 1:00 pm - Pro qualifying session 3
- 3:30 pm - Pro qualifying session 4
- Sunday, June 18
Television Schedule (According to NHRA.com, June 14, 2017)
- Friday, June 16
- FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 pm (ET)
- Saturday June 17
- FS1 will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 11 pm (ET)
- Sunday, June 18
- FS1 will televise three hours of finals coverage at 6:30 pm (ET)
Photo credit: Auto Imagery.