NHRA postpones portion of Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals - READ MORE
Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes & Quotes - Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals - Gainesville, Florida
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC10
Current points position: 6
Event Notes:
- The 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will mark the 25th season as a nitro Funny Car driver for Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
- Tim Wilkerson made his nitro Funny Car debut at Gainesville Raceway in 1996
- Wilk drove the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang nitro Funny Car to victory in Gainesville in 2010 and was low qualifier there in 2004
- The LRS Ford Mustang reached the final round at Gainesville Raceway last season
- Wilkerson is one of two Funny Car drivers currently campaigning the new Ford Mustang Funny Car body. He made the move to Ford Performance in 2009 and since that time has acquired 10 of 20 NHRA Wally trophies as a Ford ddriver. The only drivers to have more wins in a Ford Funny Car are John Force and Robert Hight.
- Team Summit driver Wilkerson, who is also the tuner and team owner of the LRS Ford Mustang Funny Car, is an independent driver. His was the only single-car team in the category to finish in the top 10 in each of the last two seasons
- 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 Gainesville
1 win in 2 final rounds
Runner-up 2019 (Robert Hight)
Won 2010 (defeated Bob Tasca)
No. 1 in 2004
Last year at this event: Qualified No. 2; final round
Wilkerson's career stats following the 2020 Arizona Nationals
(most recent event)
519 races
20 wins
24 runner-up finishes
44 final rounds
20 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career round wins (nitro Funny Car): 413
Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
Quote:
"We're really excited to get to Gainesville because our Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang is doing what we're asking of it right now, and our LRS crew is doing such a great job. I'm very optimistic, and we get to go back to a place where we've had some luck in the past, so that's always fun. We went to the finals at Gainesville Raceway last year, and we had all of our Diversified Yacht Services folks there. It's a good time to see them all so happy. You always hope for a weekend like that for the great people who support us. I think we're in a good position to go some rounds and maybe even get back to the winner's circle this weekend."
Tim Wilkerson on social media:
Facebook.com/timwilkersonracing; Instagram @timwilkersonracing; Twitter @TimWilkerson_FC
2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Standings
(after the NHRA Arizona Nationals, race 2 of 24)
1. Jack Beckman, 220
2. Tommy Johnson Jr., 175
3. John Force, 173
4. Ron Capps, 128
5. Matt Hagan, 124
6. Tim Wilkerson, 107
7. Robert Hight, 100
8. Alexis DeJoria, 99
9. Bob Tasca III, 87
10t. Paul Lee, 65
10t. J.R. Todd, 65
Race Info
51st annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, Fla.
March 12-15, 2020
Run Schedule (all times local)
Friday, March 13
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
1:15 p.m. – SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown qualifying rd 1
2:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying rd 1
4:15 p.m. – SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown qualifying rd 2
5:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying rd 2
Saturday, March 14
8:30 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations continue
11:30 a.m. – SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown qualifying rd 3
12:45 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying rd 3
2:35 p.m. – SAMTech.edu Factory Stock Showdown round 1
3:30 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying rd 4
Sunday, March 15
8:45 a.m. – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations continue
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 / Saturday – 2-3 AM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Saturday – 8-9 PM ET / FS2
Qualifying / Sunday – 1-2 AM ET / FS1
Finals / Sunday – 9:30 PM-12:30 AM ET / FS1
#Gatornats #TeamSummit
**Full results at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery