Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes and Quotes - Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson and the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car crew have one previous U.S. Nationals nitro Funny Car win (2003 over Johnny Gray)
- His first nitro Funny Car final took place there in 1997. He was runner-up to Whit Bazemore.
- Wilkerson enters the event in the No. 10 position. Indy is the final race of the regular season before the Countdown to the Championship field is set.
- 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 U.S. Nationals will be the 487th 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 at the U.S. Nationals
1 win in 3 final rounds
Runner-up 1997* (Whit Bazemore)
Won 2003 (defeated Johnny Gray)
Runner-up 2012 (Mike Neff)
No. 1 qualifier 1998
Last year: Qualified No. 10, semifinals
*Wilkerson's first nitro Funny Car final
Wilkerson's Career Stats through 2018 NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd
(most recent event)
486 races
20 wins
20 runner-up finishes
40 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 U.S. Nationals
"I usually do pretty good at Indy, and our car has been going down the track every run the last few races. Now is the time to really have your ducks in a row, so we're pretty excited. We know that we can be a fast car there, and last weekend in Brainerd we were pretty consistent, so hopefully we can continue the trend. We're not going to be lackadaisical about this. Everybody is doing a good job and working hard on the car. We're going to Indy and we're going to fight, fight, fight."
Race Info
Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals
Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianolis
Brownsburg, Indiana
August 29 – September 3, 2018
Run Schedule (all times local)
Thursday, August 30
8:00 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin
Friday, August 31
8:00 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations
7:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
Saturday, September 1
8:00 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations continue
1:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
4:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
Sunday, September 2
8:00 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations continue
12 noon – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Qualifying session 4
3:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Qualifying session 5
Monday, September 3
9:45 a.m. – Pre-race ceremonies
11:00 a.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro eliminations begin, eliminations for all categories continue
Television Schedule (all times ET)
Saturday, September 1, FS2 will televise qualifying coverage from 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 2, FS1 will televise qualifying from 4:00 p.m.
Monday, September 3, FS1 will televise a coverage from 11 a.m.
Monday, September 3, eliminations will air LIVE on FOX Broadcast Network from 1:00 p.m.
Join the conversation by using @ChevroletPerf #USNats on social media
**Full results posted throughout the weekend at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery