Wilkerson Calling on Houston Mojo as NHRA Returns to Royal Purple Raceway
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (April 18, 2017) – Tim Wilkerson is proud of his association with Royal Purple, and the driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang is eager to put his nitro Funny Car in the winner's circle at the facility that bears his associate sponsor's name. Wilkerson will be competing in the 450th NHRA Funny Car race of his career at Royal Purple Raceway this weekend, and his history at the venerable racetrack breeds a definite sense of excitement for the amiable driver.
Last season, Wilkerson had the car to beat in Houston, and he blasted to a track-record setting 3.899-second pass to reset his career best and nab his first pole since 2012. Wilkerson entered raceday on steady ground, and he continued the momentum with a final-round showing to Courtney Force.
"Last year we were five- or six-hundredths faster than everybody in Q4 [the final qualifying session], and we were the only car in the 3-second range," said Wilkerson, whose current career best is a 3.844 set earlier this season in Phoenix. "We need to get that mojo back, and hopefully we can get that done. I'm optimistic, that's for sure."
This season has already held stellar moments for Wilkerson, who has reset his career best three times in the first four events. The 20-time NHRA Funny Car trophy winner has yet to visit victory lane this year, however, and would like to change that in Houston, where he has a total of three final rounds and one victory earned in 2004.
"We usually run well in Houston, and it's been a good place for us. The track can be a little dicey, but that's kind of worked in our favor a few times," said Wilkerson. "Winning in 2004, that was another situation where nobody was able to get down the track but us. We looked like the smartest guys in the world and had low e.t. almost every round. It was crazy, and there were a lot of good cars out there.
"Last year, we had everyone's number. It was a lot of fun, and like I said, we're just hoping to get some of that mojo back."
Wilkerson in Houston
- 1 win in 3 Houston final rounds
- Runner-up 2016 (Courtney Force)
- Runner-up 2013 (Cruz Pedregon)
- Won 2004 (defeated Jerry Toliver)
- No. 1 in Houston in 2016
- At Houston in 2016: Qualified No. 1, lost to Courtney Force in final round
- Notable: Wilkerson holds the Royal Purple Raceway track record for elapsed time, set last season at 3.899; Wilkerson is a Team Royal Purple driver; the SpringNationals in Houston will be the 450th NHRA Funny Car race of Wilkerson's career
Updated Career Stats heading into Houston, race 5 of 24
- No. 11 in Funny Car standings
- 449 races
- 20 wins
- 17 runner-up finishes
- 37 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
30th annual NHRA SpringNationals
Royal Purple Raceway
Houston (Baytown), Texas
April 21-23, 2017
Run Schedule (all times CT)
- Friday, April 21
- 8:00 am - Sportsman qualifying begins
- 4:30 pm - Pro qualifying session 1
- 7:00 pm - Pro qualifying session 2
- Saturday, April 22
- 1:30 pm - Pro qualifying session 3
- 4:00 pm - Pro qualifying session
- Sunday, April 23
Television Schedule (all times ET)
- Friday, April 21
- Pro qualifying LIVE 8:30pm on FS1
- Sunday, April 23
- Pro qualifying 2am on FS1
- Sunday, April 23
- Eliminations 5:30pm on FS1
Photo credit: Auto Imagery.