Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - NHRA Sonoma Nationals - Sonoma Raceway, Sonama - July 26-28, 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 Mustang Funny Car crew are one of just five Funny Car teams to have more than one win at Sonoma Raceway. Wilkerson has won there twice, in 2004 and 2009.
- Wilkerson is No. 10 in the Funny Car standings
- Tim Wilkerson returned to the seat of his 2019 Ford Mustang three weeks ago 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 Sonoma
2 wins in 4 final rounds
Runner-up 2017 (J.R. Todd)
Runner-up 2011 (Ron Capps)
Won 2009 (defeated Tony Pedregon)
Won 2004 (defeated John Force)
Last year: Qualified No. 6; first round
Wilkerson's career stats through 2019 NHRA Mile-High Nationals in Denver
(most recent event)
507 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:
"The next two races will be tricky when it's hot out. Sonoma and Seattle are pretty similar, but Sonoma gives you one really good shot at being a hero at night. The rest of the time, usually, the sun is out and keeping the track hot. We've won there a few times, beat Tony Pedregon there and in Seattle once two weeks in a row – that's a favorite Sonoma memory. He had a good car, Dickie Venables was tuning it, and everybody knows Dickie Venables is a pain in the ass. It was fun."
2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Standings
(after Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals, race 14 of 24)
1. Robert Hight (4), 1159
2. Tommy Johnson Jr. (2), 1010
3. John Force, 958
4. Ron Capps (2), 927
5. Jack Beckman, 904
6. Bob Tasca III (2), 865
7. J.R. Todd (1), 857
8. Matt Hagan (2), 794
9. Shawn Langdon (1), 727
10. Tim Wilkerson, 724
Race Info
32nd annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma, California
July 26-28, 2019
Sonoma Raceway Track Records
Top Fuel
Leah Pritchett, 3.669 (2017); Clay Millican, 332.75 (2018)
Funny Car
Robert Hight, 3.807 (2017); Hight, 339.87 (2017)
Pro Stock
Chris McGaha, 6.499 (2015); Shane Gray, 213.00 (2015)
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Angelle Sampey, 6.730 (2018); Hector Arana Jr., 200.35 (2018)
Run Schedule (all times local)
Friday, July 26
9:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin
4:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
7:00 p.m. – Pro Stock qualifying session 2
8:00 p.m. – Funny Car and Top Fuel qualifying session 2
Saturday, July 27
9:15 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
1:20 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
4:20 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, July 28
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 – 7-8 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 2:30-3:30 PM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 5-7 PM ET / FOX
PS & PSM Show / Sunday – 10-11p ET / FS1
Join the conversation: #SonomaNats
**Full results posted at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery
