Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes and Quotes - Auto Club NHRA Finals, Pomona
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
Notes:
- Regardless of the outcome in Pomona, Tim Wilkerson is assured a top 10-finish for the 13th time in a career that spans two decades
- Wilkerson is currently No. 8 in the Funny Car standings and looking for his first win of the year
- He has not yet won in Pomona but has one runner-up there (1998)
- The NHRA Finals will be Wilkerson's 469th nitro Funny Car race
Quotes:
"It would be so bitchen to win Pomona. Points and a half there, maybe I can catch one of the guys ahead of me. We'll see, but I would sure like to keep the other guys behind me, and it would really be a feather in my hat after J.R. Todd beat me twice at races I should have won. That irritated me, but they just did a better job than we did at those races. We're going to keep on it, though. I've been to the finals in Pomona once, and it would be so exciting to get there again. I just need to focus, and my guys need to keep their chins up. That's what we need. They've never lost faith in me, and so far, that's kept us going."
Wilkerson in Pomona
1 Pomona final
Runner-up PC1 1998 (Ron Capps)
No. 1 at PC1 in 2003, 2008
At this race in 2016: Qualified No. 9, lost to Jack Beckman in the second round
At PC1 in 2017: Qualified No. 6, lost to J.R. Todd in the first round
Career Stats through 2017 NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series race 23 of 24
No. 8 in Funny Car standings
468 races
20 wins
19 runner-up finishes
39 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 Las Vegas 2, Countdown to the Championship race 5 of 6)
1. Robert Hight, 2,548
2. Ron Capps, 2,533
3. Courtney Force, 2,423
4. Jack Beckman, 2,396
5. Matt Hagan, 2,387
6. John Force, 2,306
7. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,276
8. Tim Wilkerson, 2,237
9. J.R. Todd, 2,233
10. Cruz Pedregon, 2,163
Race Info
53rd annual Auto Club NHRA Finals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
November 9-12, 2017
Run Schedule (all times PT)
Thursday, November 9
8:15am – Sportsman qualifying
Friday, November 10
8:15am – Sportsman eliminations
12:00pm – Pro qualifying session 1
2:45pm – Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, November 11
8:15am – Sportsman eliminations
12:00pm – Pro qualifying session 3
2:45pm – Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, November 12
11am – Eliminations
Television Schedule
Friday, Nov. 10, FS1 will televise one hour of LIVE qualifying coverage at 6:30 p.m. (ET).
Saturday. Nov. 11, FS1 will televise one hour of LIVE qualifying coverage at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Nov. 12, FS1 will televise three hours of LIVE finals coverage starting at 4 p.m. (ET).
Photo credit: Auto Imagery