Tim Wilkerson Racing Notes & Quotes - Indy 1 – E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Nationals - Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Indiana
Tim Wilkerson
Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
Car No.: FC10
Current points position: 6
Series Notes:
- NHRA's Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to action July 11-12, 2020 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis following a four-month hiatus due to COVID-19.
- For the first time since 2007, the series will not include the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. The championship will be decided based on a season-long points tally.
- Races for the remainder of the season, except the U.S. Nationals on Memorial Day Weekend, will be two-day events, with two rounds of qualifying on Saturday to set the field for Sunday eliminations.
Event Notes:
- The 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series marks the 25th season as a nitro Funny Car driver for Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang
- Wilkerson will debut a fresh paint scheme on his LRS Mustang that was designed by celebrated motorsports artist Greg Ozubko
- Wilk's son, Daniel Wilkerson, will also compete at the event. Daniel will be driving a second Ford Mustang with a special sponsor-tribute design to celebrate and thank the associate sponsors that have been part of Tim Wilkerson Racing through recent years. Daniel's participation in the event is to keep his nitro Funny Car license active and shake the car down for its new owner, Chad Green, who plans to make his debut in the class the following weekend.
- Tim 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 is also the tuner and team owner of the LRS Ford Mustang Funny Car. 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's career stats following the 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:
"I don't know if we could get any more prepared than we are right now. Once things get going, it's going to be nonstop, so you really need to make sure you've got all your junk ready. We've spent a lot of time on that, and none of us have a clue how things are going to go, but I feel good to tell you the truth. We're going to go there and try our best. We've been waiting a long time."
Tim Wilkerson on social media:
Facebook.com/timwilkersonracing; Instagram @timwilkersonracing; Twitter @TimWilkerson_FC
2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car Standings
(after Phoenix, most recent event)
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
Run Schedule (all times local)
Saturday, July 11
11:45 a.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 1
3:15 p.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro qualifying session 2
Sunday, July 12
9:00 a.m. – Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro eliminations begin
#NHRAonFOX Schedule (all times ET)
Qualifying / Saturday – 4:30-6 PM ET / FS1
Qualifying / Saturday – 8-9 PM ET / FS2=1
Finals / Sunday – 12-2:30 PM ET / FOX
#IndyNats #TeamSummit
**Full results at DragRaceCentral.com**
Photo credit: Auto Imagery