Confidence building for Wilkerson as NHRA arrives in Denver
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
SPRINGFIELD, IL. (July 19, 2017) – This weekend's 38th annual Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway will mark the first of three consecutive race weekends that take NHRA's Mello Yello Drag Racing Series out west for the strenuous stretch long known as the Western Swing. The Denver kick-off is the trickiest for many drivers and tuners due to the thin air that requires a different set-up than anywhere else on the circuit. For driver, tuner, and team owner Tim Wilkerson, the challenge is graciously coinciding with a bit of momentum.
Two weeks ago, Levi, Ray and Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car pilot Wilkerson raced his way to the semifinals at the Route 66 Nationals in Chicago, and coming up just one round short of the final was quite an encouragement. The team is working to protect their position in the top 10 as the Countdown to the Championship comes into view, and Wilkson has his sights set on picking up his first win of the season.
"The good thing about Chicago was that it was a confidence builder for our team," said Wilkerson, currently No. 8 in the Funny Car standings. "I'm driving better, our car is better. That increase in confidence really seems to make a difference for us. I can get a little cockier tuning, which seems to make it easier. Then I get better at it – I think, anyway. I just have to give myself a bigger window, and I’m not real happy with the window that I've been in. It'll come around, though."
Wilkerson has one previous Denver win in one final round; he claimed the 2008 trophy over Jack Beckman. He was also No. 1 qualifier at the event in 1999 and 2003.
"The only bad thing about the Western Swing is that it's so dang far from home," said the 20-time nitro Funny Car winner. "We're going for five in a row, because after the Swing we're going to match race [at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk], then we go to Brainerd. We really have to make sure we have everything in order for this next stretch. It'll be a busy few weeks, but we'll just keep our heads down and do our best. I know our guys are ready to win again. I am, too."
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**Full results posted throughout the weekend at DragRaceCentral.com**
Wilkerson in Denver
1 win in 1 final round
Won 2008 (defeated Jack Beckman)
No. 1 qualifier in 1999, 2003
Last year: Qualified No. 10, unable to compete on Sunday due to crash during qualifying that left Wilkerson uninjured but his car damaged beyond repair; forfeited first-round match to Matt Hagan
Updated Career Stats heading into Denver, race 14 of 24
No. 8 in Funny Car standings
458 races
20 wins
18 runner-up finishes
38 overall final rounds
19 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Funny Car Standings
(after Chicago, race 13 of 24)
1. Ron Capps, 1208
2. Matt Hagan, 1022
3. Jack Beckman, 914
4. Robert Hight, 853
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 833
6. Courtney Force, 749
7. John Force, 718
8. Tim Wilkerson, 599
9. J.R. Todd, 559
10. Cruz Pedregon, 463
Race Info
38th annual Mile-High NHRA Nationals
Bandimere Speedway
Denver, Colorado
July 21-23, 2017
Run Schedule (all times MST)
Friday, July 21
11:00 am - Sportsman qualifying
5:00 pm - Pro qualifying session 1
7:30 pm - Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, July 22
11:00 am - Sportsman eliminations
4:00 pm - Pro qualifying session 3
6:30 pm - Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, July 23
11:00 am - Eliminations
Television Schedule (all times EST)
(According to NHRA.com, July 19, 2017)
Friday, July 21, on FS1 - one hour of qualifying coverage at 8 pm (ET)
Saturday, July 22, on FS1 - one hour of qualifying coverage at 12 am (ET)
Sunday, July 23, on FOX network - three hours of LIVE finals coverage at 3 pm (ET)
Photo credit: Auto Imagery.