Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes and Quotes - NHRA Carolina Nationals - Charlotte, NC
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang
Car No.: FC8
Current points position: No. 3
Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson and the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car crew have one previous Charlotte nitro Funny Car win (2016 over Cruz Pedregon)
- Wilkerson enters the event, the fourth in NHRA's 2018 Countdown to the Championship playoffs, in the No. 3 position.
- Steadily climbing, Wilkerson began the Countdown in the No. 10 position, moved up to No. 6 after reaching the final in Reading, to No. 4 after another final in St. Louis, and to No. 3 after strong qualifying passes in Dallas.
- As the driver, tuner, and team owner of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car, Wilkerson is an independent campaigner and one of just two single-car teams in the category to finish in the top 10 in 2017.
- He has finished in the top 10 in 13 of his 22 years as a nitro Funny Car driver, including in each of the most recent 10 years.
- The NHRA Carolina Nationals will be the 491st race of Wilkerson's career as a nitro Funny Car driver
- The early portion of Wilkerson's career included a successful run as a Top Alcohol Funny Car driver. He earned eight divisional trophies and one national event win in the sportsman ranks before going Pro.
Wilkerson in Charlotte
1 win in 1 Charlotte final round
Won Charlotte 1 2016 (Cruz Pedregon)
No. 1 at Charlotte 2 in 2012
In 2017: Qualified No. 7, first round
Wilkerson's career stats through 2018 NHRA FallNationals in Dallas
(most recent event)
490 races
20 wins
22 runner-up finishes
39 final rounds
19 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
Wilkerson on the NHRA Carolina Nationals
"It can be tricky there, but we think it will work out okay. We didn't really hurt anything last weekend except our own feelings, so we didn't have too much maintenance-wise to take care of in these couple days between races. We're pretty excited, really, about how the car is performing and how the guys are doing. Everything looks good, and even though the other teams are doing just as well, we know our Levi, Ray and Shoup Mustang is a good car. It's a good time of year to be this optimistic."
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Funny Car Standings
(after AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Countdown to the Championship race 3 of 6)
1. Robert Hight, 2387
2. J.R. Todd, 2337
3. Tim Wilkerson, 2254
6. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2251
4. Courtney Force, 2232
5. Ron Capps, 2215
7. Matt Hagan, 2175
9. John Force, 2172
8. Jack Beckman, 2168
10. Shawn Langdon, 2120
Race Info
NHRA Carolina Nationals
zMAX Dragway, Concord, North Carolina
October 12-14, 2018
Run Schedule (all times ET)
Friday, October 12
2:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
5:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, October 13
12:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
3:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, October 14
11:00 a.m. – Pre-race ceremonies, driver introductions
12:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro eliminations begin, eliminations for all categories continue
Television Schedule
Qualifying / Friday – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET | FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET | FS1
Finals / Sunday – 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET | FS1
Join the conversation by using #CarolinaNats on social media
**Full results posted throughout the weekend at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery