Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes and Quotes - Auto Club NHRA Finals - Pomona, CA
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang
Car No.: FC8
Current points position: No. 4
Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson enters the NHRA Finals, the last race in NHRA's 2018 Countdown to the Championship playoffs, in the No. 4 position and 186 marks out of first
- Points and a half will be in effect for the season ending event. The winner of the race can earn up to 191 points, which means that the championship is still mathematically possible for Wilkerson.
- Regardless of the outcome in Pomona, Wilkerson is assured a top 10-finish for the 14th time in a career that spans 22 years as a nitro Funny Car driver
- He has been a top 10 driver in each of the most recent 10 years
- Wilkerson has not yet won in Pomona but has one runner-up there (1998)
- 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.
- The NHRA Finals will be the 493rd 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 Pomona
1 Pomona final
Runner-up PC1 1998 (Ron Capps)
No. 1 at PC1 in 2003, 2008
At this race in 2017: Qualified No. 11, quarterfinals
At PC1 in 2018: Qualified No. 6, quarterfinals
Wilkerson's career stats through 2018 NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas
(most recent event)
492 races
20 wins
22 runner-up finishes
42 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
"We need to do some good at Pomona. I thought we’d really do well in Las Vegas, but we didn’t get as far as we’d hoped. I was optimistic about how our car performed on every run, though, so we’ll take that to Pomona. Everyone is going to have the same game plan there, though, so it’s going to be a battle. All these cars in the top 6 or 7 are going to be tough. J.R. [Todd, points leader] is making it interesting, and I think it’s going to be a pretty cool weekend."
NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series
Funny Car Standings
(after AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, Countdown to the Championship race 3 of 6)
1. J.R. Todd, 2553
2. Robert Hight, 2479
3. Ron Capps, 2388
4. Tim Wilkerson, 2367
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2362
6. Courtney Force, 2324
7. Matt Hagan, 2321
8. Jack Beckman, 2283
9. John Force, 2277
10. Shawn Langdon, 2204
Race Info
54th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
November 8-11, 2018
Run Schedule (all times PT)
Thursday, November 8
8:15am – Sportsman qualifying
Friday, November 9
8:15am – Sportsman eliminations
12:45pm – Pro qualifying session 1
3:15pm – Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, November 10
8:15am – Sportsman eliminations
12:00pm – Pro qualifying session 3
2:30pm – Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, November 11
11am – Eliminations
#NHRAonFOX Television Schedule
Qualifying / Friday – 10:30-11:30 PM ET | FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 11:30 AM-12:30 PM ET | FS1
Finals / Sunday – LIVE | 4-7 PM ET | FS1
Post-Race Show / Sunday – LIVE | 7-7:30 PM ET | FS1
Join the conversation by using #NHRAFinals on social media
Photo credit: Auto Imagery