Tim Wilkerson Notes and Quotes - Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC10
Current points position: 5
Event-Specific Notes:
- Tim Wilkerson won the 2004 NHRA SpringNationals with a final-round defeat of Jerry Toliver
- Wilkerson, with one of the most powerful cars in the nitro Funny Car class, has qualified his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang in the top three at four of the nine events so far contested this season
Driver Notes:
- The 2020 NHRA Camping World 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
- 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 driver. 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.
Tim Wilkerson at the NHRA SpringNationals in Houston
1 win in 3 final rounds
Runner-up 2016 (Courtney Force)
Runner-up 2013 (Cruz Pedregon)
Won 2004 (defeated Jerry Toliver)
No. 1 in Houston in 2016
Last year: Qualified No. 3; first round
Wilkerson's career stats through 2020 NHRA FallNationals
(most recent event)
526 races
20 wins
25 runner-up finishes
45 final rounds
20 No. 1 qualifier awards
Career best e.t.: 3.844 (2017 Phoenix)
Career best speed: 333.74 (2016 Topeka)
Quote:
"We had such a good car in Dallas, and that sure does elevate our hope going into Houston and Vegas. It's hard to run with these guys when the tracks are as good as we had in Dallas, but you never know. Houston is a little bit of a tricky track, but we're good with it. We got to the finals there in '16, and we won it once. I think it would be the coolest thing if we could do it again for Levi, Ray & Shoup, Ford Performance, and all my guys. They've worked their butts off without a win these last couple years, and I think it's time."
Tim Wilkerson on social media:
Facebook.com/timwilkersonracing; Instagram @timwilkersonracing; Twitter @TimWilkerson_FC
2020 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Funny Standings
(after the NHRA FallNationals)
1. Matt Hagan, 762
2. Jack Beckman, 758
3. Tommy Johnson Jr., 685
4. Ron Capps, 588
5t. Bob Tasca III, 538
5t. Tim Wilkerson, 538
7. J.R. Todd, 526
8. Alexis DeJoria, 414
9. Paul Lee, 351
10. Cruz Pedregon, 335
Race Info
33rd annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals presented by Pennzoil
Houston Raceway Park
Baytown, Texas
October 23-25, 2020
Run Schedule (all times local)
Friday, October 23
9:30am – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman qualifying begins
Saturday, October 24
8:30am – Lucas Oil Series Sportsman eliminations begin
12:45pm – Camping World Series Pro qualifying session 1
3:45pm – Camping World Series Pro qualifying session 2
Sunday, October 25
10am – Camping World Drag Racing Series eliminations begin,
eliminations for all other categories continue
#NHRAonFOX Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Sunday – 9-11 AM ET / FS1
Eliminations / Sunday – 2-5 PM ET / FS1
#SpringNats
**Full results at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery