Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - 2019 Auto Club NHRA Finals - Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC5
Current points position: No. 10
Event-Specific Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson enters the Auto Club NHRA Finals No. 10 in the Funny Car standings
- Points and a half will be in effect for the season ending event. The winner of the race can earn up to 191 points
- Regardless of the outcome at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Wilkerson is assured a top 10-finish for the 15th time in his career as a nitro Funny Car driver
- Wilkerson has not yet won in Pomona but has one runner-up there (1998 Winternationals to Ron Capps)
Driver Notes:
- Team Summit driver Wilkerson, the driver, tuner, and team owner of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang Funny Car, is an independent driver and the only single-car team in the category to finish in the top 10 in 2018
- Wilk has finished in the top 10 in 14 of his 22 years as a nitro Funny Car driver, including in each of the most recent 11 years
- Wilkerson was in the final at Gainesville, Las Vegas, and Atlanta this year. He was the No. 1 qualifier in Las Vegas.
- 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.
Wilkerson in Pomona
1 Pomona final
Runner-up PC1 1998 (Ron Capps)
No. 1 at PC1 in 2003, 2008
At this race in 2018: Qualified No. 7; first round
Wilkerson's career stats through 2019 Dodge NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas
(most recent event)
516 races
20 wins
24 runner-up finishes
44 final rounds
20 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
Quotes:
"We're still trying to win rounds, and we have a chance to get back to being a single-digit in the points. We're in test mode [for next year] now, but that doesn't mean we don't want to gain points and win this last race of the season. The other guys are running good in the middle of the pack, and it'll be an interesting championship run. Maybe we can spoil it a little bit."
2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Standings
(after Dodge NHRA Nationals, NHRA Countdown to the Championship race 5 of 6)
1. Robert Hight, 2,494
2. Jack Beckman, 2,448
4. Matt Hagan, 2,438
3. John Force, 2,422
5. Bob Tasca III, 2,390
6. Ron Capps, 2,334
7. J.R. Todd, 2,312
8. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,306
9. Shawn Langdon, 2,274
10. Tim Wilkerson, 2,223
Race Info
Auto Club NHRA Finals
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
November 14-17, 2019
Run Schedule (all times local)
Thursday, November 14
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin
Friday, November 15
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
12:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
2:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
After Pro qualifying – Lucas Oil Series Top Alcohol qualifying concludes
Saturday, November 16
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations continue
12:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
2:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, November 17
9:45 a.m. – SealMaster Track Walk, followed by Pre-Race Ceremonies
11:00 a.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro eliminations begin
#NHRAonFOX Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Friday – 5:30-7:30 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 3-4 PM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 4-7 PM ET / FS1
#NHRAFinals #NHRACountdown
**Full results at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery