Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes and Quotes - Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals - June 7-9, 2019
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC5
Current points position: No. 8
Event-specific Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson's first national event win came at Heartland Motorsports Park in 1994 in an alcohol Funny Car
- Wilkerson ran his career-best speed in a nitro Funny Car at this event in 2016 when he went 333.74 mph
- Wilkerson hails from Springfield, Ill., and will be racing for the trophy for longtime sponsor Levi, Ray & Shoup. Wilkerson has been primarily sponsored by LRS for 20 years in one of the longest standing partnerships in current-day NHRA drag racing.
- Wilkerson debuted his brand-new Ford Mustang Funny Car body this season at the Virginia Nationals in Richmond, but he will not be running it in Topeka as it was damaged in Chicago when he came into contact with the guard wall during eliminations.
- Wilkerson has been a devoted Ford campaigner for 10 years and has claimed 10 of his 20 nitro Funny Car victories piloting a Ford Mustang.
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 Topeka
1 win in 3 Topeka final rounds, including sportsman competition
Runner-up 2008 (John Force)
Runner-up 2002 (Tony Pedregon)
Won TAFC (Top Alcohol Funny Car) 1994 (beat Jackie Stidham)
In 2018: Qualified No. 9, first round
Wilkerson's Career Stats through 2019 Virginia NHRA Nationals in Richmond (most recent Funny Car event)
502 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 caused a little bit of damage to our new Ford Mustang body out there in Chicago, so we're getting that looked at and fixed up, but for now we're back to one of our older bodies. This will give us a chance to narrow things down and see if our issues have been part of the new equation. We had a really good car in Chicago, and it was aggravating to [damage it]. Anyhow, we're excited to get to Topeka and get set up and going. We've done well there in the past, and we always have a pretty big contingent of support there."
Race Info
31st annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties
Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka
June 7-9, 2019
Run Schedule (all times local)
Friday, June 7
8:00 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying and time trials begin
3:15 p.m. – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session 1
4:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
6:45 p.m. – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session 2
8:00 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Saturday, June 8
8:00 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
11:30 a.m. – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown qualifying session 3
12:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 3
2:45 p.m. – SAM Tech Factory Stock Showdown round 1
3:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 4
Sunday, June 9
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Sportsman eliminations continue
10:00 a.m. – Mello Yello Series pre-race ceremonies
11:00 a.m. –Pro eliminations begin, Sportsman eliminations continue
#NHRAonFOX Television Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Saturday – 10-11 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Sunday – 12-1 PM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 5:30-8:30 PM ET / FS1
(Sportsman) Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Television Schedule
Finals / Thursday, June 20 – 8:30-9:30 PM ET / FS2
Join the conversation by using #NHRA #HeartlandNats on social media
**Full results at
DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery