Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - NHRA Northwest Nationals - Seattle, Washington
Posted by: Kelly Topolinski
Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson and the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car crew are perfect in Seattle final rounds. Wilkerson won three consecutive Northwest Nationals (2009-2011).
- Wilkerson enters the event in the No. 11 position, just 27 points out of the top 10
- 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 Northwest Nationals will be the 485th 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 Seattle
3 wins in 3 final rounds
Won 2011 (defeated Jack Beckman)
Won 2010 (defeated Ron Capps)
Won 2009 (defeated Tony Pedregon)
Last year: Qualified No. 11; first round
Wilkerson's Career Stats through 2018 NHRA Sonoma Nationals in Sonoma
(most recent event)
484 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 NHRA Northwest Nationals
"We were real happy in Denver because we had a good car, and I just missed it a little on Sunday and sure didn't get a good draw having Robert Hight first round," said Wilkerson. "But everything is coming around with our car and our parts after we figured out what we'd been doing wrong procedurally in Epping a couple races back. We've got it nipped in the bud now, and with any luck, we can go to Seattle, Brainerd, and Indy and make some good runs. The more runs you make once you figure something like that out, the better you get. The way the points are right now, I know I have to win rounds. When it comes down to it, if we're ninth or 10th in the Countdown [to the Championship], it will be stupendous. But if not, it sure won't be from a lack of trying. I've got a good group of kids, and our problems are behind us because we've knuckled down and fixed them. Now we're going to be focused on winning some rounds up there in Seattle."
Race Info
31st annual CatSpot NHRA Northwest Nationals
Pacific Raceways
Kent, Washington
August 3-5, 2018
Run Schedule (all times local)
Friday, August 3
9:15 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin
3:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
5:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, August 4
9:15 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
1:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
4:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, August 5
10:00 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)
Friday, August 3, FS1 will televise qualifying coverage from 7 – 8 pm
Saturday, August 4, FS1 will televise qualifying coverage from 10 – 11:30 pm
Sunday, August 5, eliminations LIVE on national FOX Network (not FS1) from 4 – 7 pm
Join the conversation by using #NorthwestNats on social media
**Full results posted throughout the weekend at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery