Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals
Ennis, TX
(September 21-24)

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Driver Profile

Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Shelby Mustang

Dallas, Sunday: The odds were against Springfield, Ill. Funny Car favorite, Tim Wilkerson in the first-round of action today at the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals.  It was on of those times where having lane choice mattered, for the quarter-mile at the Texas Motorplex was a one-lane race track.

Wilkerson's opponent, Mike Ashley took the better-left lane in their match-up.  And as the majority of cars that raced before him, Wilkerson's Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Monte Carlo came out on the wrong end of the deal.  Wilkerson lost a blower belt and coasted across the stripe at 5.688 seconds against Ashley's 4.771.

"I certainly think that being in the left lane was a better deal today," said Wilkerson, "because you saw how many wins came out of that lane.  When we hit the whoopdee out there, it spun the tire a little and shucked the blower belt.  And then of course we just happen to be on the receiving end of the quickest run of the session.  We didn't have anything for a 77 anyway.  It was going to run an 85 probably, which is what we were trying to do.  After watching everybody smoking the tires out there, you wonder how hard you should try.

"But I'm not unhappy with how we ran this weekend.  I think it stills shows some promise.  I think we're going to make a change before Reading, next weekend, and we'll see how much better our car gets."

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