Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals - World Wide Technology Raceway - September 27-29, 2019
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC5
Current points position: No. 9
Event-Specific Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson and the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang Funny Car crew have one previous St. Louis nitro Funny Car win (2008 over Mike Neff)
- 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.
- Wilkerson reached the final round in St. Louis last season and was just one win light shy of earning his 21st career nitro Funny Car win
- Wilkerson enters the event, the second in NHRA's 2019 Countdown to the Championship playoffs, in the No. 9 position – up one spot after an improved performance in Reading two weeks ago
- 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
Driver Notes:
- 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 at the NHRA Nationals in St. Louis
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. 6; final round
Wilkerson's career stats through 2019 Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals in Reading
(most recent event)
512 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)
Quote:
"St. Louis is going to be a big race for us, and hopefully we'll have something for them like we did last year. That was a very good weekend, and if we can keep our momentum up and go a couple of rounds at a time like we did last year, we'll be in good shape. I'm excited – we have a pretty decent car with this 40th anniversary Ford Mustang. To head to our home track and have everybody cheering for us, that's a lot of fun. Our sponsor, Dick Levi, was real pumped after we won first round in Reading; it'd sure be cool to get a win for him and all the folks who stand behind us. It's going to be a good Countdown."
2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Standings
(after NHRA Reading, Countdown to the Championship race 1 of 6)
1. Jack Beckman, 2,179
2. John Force, 2,160
3. Robert Hight, 2,155
4. Ron Capps, 2,136
5. Tommy Johnson Jr., 2,105
6. Matt Hagan, 2,092
7. J.R. Todd, 2,089
8. Bob Tasca III, 2,072
9. Tim Wilkerson, 2,057
10. Shawn Langdon, 2,043
Race Info
8th annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals
World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway
St. Louis
September 27-29, 2019
Run Schedule (all times ET)
Friday, September 27
7:30am – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying, time trials begin
2:15pm – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session 1
3:15pm – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
5:00pm – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session 2
6:00pm – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, September 28
8:00am – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
12:45pm – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session 3
1:45pm – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
3:30pm – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown round one
4:30pm – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, September 29
11am – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series eliminations begin, eliminations for all other categories continue
#NHRAonFOX Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Friday – 6-7 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 1-2 PM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 2-5 PM ET / FS1
Event hashtags: #MidwestNats #NHRACountdown
**Full results posted at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery
