Illinois Native Wilkerson Returns to Site of First Nitro Win at Route 66 Raceway
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
SPRINGFIELD, IL. (July 5, 2017) – This weekend's Children of Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals is the 13th race of 24 in the 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, and as the summer of racing heats up, the tour heads home for Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson. The driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang will be racing in his home state at the Chicago-area event.
In honor of this weekend's race, Springfield, Illinois-based Wilkerson's eye-catching nitro-fueled Funny Car will look a bit different at Joliet's Route 66 Raceway. On the hood of his fast Funny Car will be the mascot for Eastern Illinois University, the alma mater of longtime sponsor and friend Dick Levi.
"We thought it would be neat to have the Eastern Illinois logo on the hood for this race to really welcome all of the folks from the university who will be there cheering for us," said Wilkerson, referring to a group of Eastern Illinois University alumnus slated to join Mr. Levi in the LRS hospitality area over the course of the event. "We're excited to have them out to the racetrack with us, and this is something a little bit different. The university's logo looks great on the car, and we can't wait for them to see it. It would sure be special to park that thing in the winner's circle this weekend."
For the team owner, driver, and tuner, winning the event would put a second checkmark in the victory column at Route 66 Raceway. Wilkerson's 1999 win in Chicago was quite memorable as it was the first of his nitro career, and he beat veteran driver John Force in a final.
"It was my first nitro win, so that's really special – but I think the most unique part about winning this race in 1999 was that it was the first time all year someone other than a JFR car had won," said Wilkerson. "We had a pretty good car, and it was a good weekend. Everything went right to get us to the final, but John and I both smoked the tires that last round – I just got lucky enough to smoke 'em later than he did.
"You couldn't even see the scoreboards from the starting line because of all the smoke. Later, Force came up to tell me that he said to [then-crew chief Austin] Coil, 'Look how excited these guys are. Remember when it was this much fun?' At that time, they were winning all the time. They were doing the same thing that's happening with the Don Schumacher Racing cars now, where somehow, no matter what happened, they'd win."
Wilkerson enters this weekend's event with 20 nitro Funny Car wins on his scorecard. Wilk was No. 1 qualifier just a few weeks ago in Bristol, and he was a finalist earlier this season in Atlanta, but the 21-year nitro veteran is still chasing the first victory of the year. He'll be calling on a dash of history to complement the horsepower in Chicago.
"It would be a little bit of Groundhog Day or déjà vu if this single-car team could take away DSR's horseshoe this weekend," said Wilkerson with a wink.
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**Full results posted throughout the weekend at DragRaceCentral.com**
Wilkerson in Chicago
1 win in 1 final round
Won 1999 (defeated John Force)
Last year: Qualified No. 5, lost in the first round to Bob Tasca III
Updated Career Stats heading into Chicago, race 13 of 24
No. 8 in Funny Car standings
457 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 Norwalk, race 12 of 24)
1. Ron Capps, 1095
2. Matt Hagan, 946
3. Jack Beckman, 855
4. Robert Hight, 809
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 739
6. Courtney Force, 714
7. John Force, 683
8. Tim Wilkerson, 525
9. J.R. Todd, 508
10. Cruz Pedregon, 431
Race Info
20th annual Fallen Patriots NHRA Route 66 Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Chicago, Illinois
July 6-9, 2017
Run Schedule (all times CT)
Thursday, July 6
9:00 am - Sportsman qualifying
Friday, July 7
9:00 am - Sportsman qualifying/eliminations
5:15 pm - Pro qualifying session 1
7:45 pm - Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, July 8
9:00 am - Sportsman eliminations
3:15 pm - Pro qualifying session 3
6:00 pm - Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, July 9
12:00 pm - Eliminations
Television Schedule
(According to NHRA.com, July 5, 2017)
Saturday, July 8, FS1 will televise two hours of LIVE qualifying coverage at 5pm (ET)
Sunday, July 9, FS1 will televise three hours of LIVE finals coverage at 3pm (ET)
Photo credit: Auto Imagery.