Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC10
Current points position: 5
Driver Notes:
- The 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will mark the 25th season as a nitro Funny Car driver for Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
- Wilkerson is one of two Funny Car drivers currently campaigning the new Ford Mustang Funny Car body. He made the move to Ford Performance in 2009 and since that time has acquired 10 of 20 NHRA Wally trophies as a Ford ddriver. The only drivers to have more wins in a Ford Funny Car are John Force and Robert Hight.
- Team Summit driver Wilkerson, who is also the tuner and team owner of the LRS Ford Mustang Funny Car, is an independent driver. His was the only single-car team in the category to finish in the top 10 in each of the last two seasons
- The early portion of Wilkerson's career included a successful run as a Top Alcohol Funny Car driver. He earned eight division trophies, one national event win, and was the Division 3 Top Alcohol Funny Car champ in both 1994 and 1995 in the Lucas Oil Series before stepping up to the Pro ranks in Gainesville in 1996.
Event-Specific Notes:
- World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway is home for Wilkerson. The Levi, Ray & Shoup team is based in Springfield, Illinois, just 93 miles from the racetrack.
- Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang, was the No. 2 qualifier and reached the final round last weekend in Gainesville. He is currently No. 5 in the Funny Car standings.
- Wilkerson has one previous St. Louis nitro Funny Car win (2008 over Mike Neff)
- This weekend, Wilkerson's son, Daniel, will be behind the wheel of a second Ford Mustang nitro Funny Car for the Tim Wilkerson Racing team. It will be his 13th event as a nitro Funny Car driver and second in St. Louis.
Tim Wilkerson at the NHRA Midwest Nationals
1 win in 3 final rounds
Runner-up 2018 (Robert Hight)
Won 2008 (defeated Mike Neff)
Runner-up 2005 (Ron Capps)
No. 1 in 1998, 2008
Last year: Qualified No. 11; second round
Wilkerson's career stats following the 2020 Indy Nationals
(most recent event)
525 races
20 wins
25 runner-up finishes
45 final rounds
20 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career round wins (nitro Funny Car): 418
Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
Quote:
"We had a good points-day on Sunday at Gainesville, and I think we're in a good position to add to that. Of course, we have a lot of work to do before we get to this race, and we want to do well there because it's really a home race for us. Dick Levi and everybody will be watching, and even though they won't be able to be there, we always want them to be proud. It's always a real special weekend for us, and this year we've got Daniel [Wilkerson, son] racing a second car, so that should be fun. It'll be a busy weekend, but like I said last week: we've got nothing to prove. We're a one-man band with a bunch of guys just doing their best, and if we can do what we did last weekend, I think we'll be in pretty good shape."
Tim Wilkerson on social media:
Facebook.com/timwilkersonracing; Instagram @timwilkersonracing; Twitter @TimWilkerson_FC
2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Standings
(after the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals)
1. Jack Beckman, 569
2. Matt Hagan, 656
3. Tommy Johnson Jr., 512
4. Ron Capps, 486
5. Tim Wilkerson, 448
6. Bob Tasca III, 434
7. J.R. Todd, 420
8. Alexis DeJoria, 296
9. Cruz Pedregon, 266
10. Paul Lee, 258
Race Info
9th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals presented by Pennzoil
World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill. (St. Louis)
October 2-4, 2020
Run Schedule (all times CT)
Friday, October 2
8:30am – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying, time trials begin
Saturday, October 3
9:30am – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
12:30pm – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
4:00pm – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Sunday, October 4
11am – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series eliminations begin,
eliminations for all other categories continue
#NHRAonFOX Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Saturday – 10-11 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 1:30-2:30 PM ET / FS1
Eliminations / Sunday – 2:30-5:30 PM ET / FS1
#MidwestNats
**Full results at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery