Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - NHRA Northwest Nationals - Pacific Raceways, Seattle - August 2-4, 2019
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC5
Current points position: No. 10
Event-Specific 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 is No. 10 in the Funny Car standings
- Tim Wilkerson returned to the seat of his 2019 Ford Mustang last month in Epping. Just one race after its debut in Richmond, the Levi, Ray & Shoup 40th anniversary Ford Mustang nitro Funny Car body was damaged in an otherwise-uneventful incident in which Wilkerson came into contact with the wall at the Route 66 Nationals.
- Back in his new Ford Mustang, a proven, well-engineered piece, Wilkerson raced all the way to the semifinals in Epping after back-to-back first-round exits
Driver Notes:
- Wilkerson was in the final at Gainesville, Las Vegas, and Atlanta this year. He was the No. 1 qualifier in Las Vegas.
- 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
- 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 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. 5; semifinals
Wilkerson's career stats through 2019 NHRA Sonoma Nationals
(most recent event)
508 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've spent a lot of time trying to figure out why our car does what it does, and we're getting closer to getting everything right. This LRS Ford Mustang isn't giving us any real problems, I just have to concentrate on steering better than I did in Sonoma, and we'll see. Anyhow, I'm not good at playing defense [regarding the points]. I'm going to go out there and try to win some rounds."
2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Standings
(after Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals, race 14 of 24)
1. Robert Hight (5), 1283
2. Tommy Johnson Jr. (2), 1084
3. John Force, 1035
4. Jack Beckman, 964
5. Ron Capps (2), 962
6. Bob Tasca III (2), 924
7. J.R. Todd (1), 889
8. Matt Hagan (2), 888
9. Shawn Langdon (1), 786
10. Tim Wilkerson, 757
Race Info
31st annual Magic Dry Organic Absorbent NHRA Northwest Nationals
Pacific Raceways
Kent, Washington
August 2-4, 2019
Pacific Raceways Track Records
Top Fuel
Antron Brown, 3.685 (2016); Steve Torrence, 331.61 (2018)
Funny Car
Del Worsham, 3.832 (2016); Jack Beckman, 334.15 (2016)
Pro Stock
Chris McGaha, 6.488 (2015); McGaha, 213.40 (2015)
Run Schedule (all times local)
Friday, August 2
9:15 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin
3:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
6:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, August 3
9:15 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
1:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
4:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, August 4
10:00 a.m. – Pre-race ceremonies
11:00 a.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro eliminations begin, eliminations for all categories continue
#NHRAonFOX Television Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Friday – 6:30-8 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Saturday – 10:30-11:30 PM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 4-7 PM ET / FOX
Join the conversation: #NorthwestNats
**Full results posted at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery
