Championship Drag Racing

O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals
Madison, IL
(May 4-6)

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Driver Profile

Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray & Shoup Shelby Mustang

St. Louis, Saturday: Rain may have put a damper on the racing action yesterday at the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals, but it was nowhere to be found today.  But with qualifying reduced to only two opportunities, Tim Wilkerson knew he had to take full advantage of every run to get his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Funny Car into the program.  And that is just what Wilkerson did as he sits in the No. 16 position going into race day.

Wilkerson had slight troubles on each run, but nothing that can't be corrected for race day.  In the first round, Wilkerson ran 5.111 and in the second round, he posted a 5.146.

"On the first run, it put a hole out right at the tree," explained Wilkerson.  "So, we tuned it up a little for the next run and we tuned a little too much.  It beat the clutch all up on the last run.  It was making a pretty good run until it did that, and when it did, it smoked the tires. We're not going to give up.  We're going to keep beating on this thing until it loves us.  I'm not upset with it though.  We'll get it fixed and have something for tomorrow."

With Gateway International Raceway only about 90 miles from home for Wilkerson and the headquarters for Levi, Ray & Shoup, it is the place for everyone to come out and cheer on their favorite Funny Car team.  And with a group of over 600, there was a lot of cheering going on for Wilkerson and his talented crew.

"We're happy to be in the show," said Wilkerson, "and glad to see everybody from Levi, Ray & Shoup, and the customers that came out in the rain yesterday.  And we're glad to have Graybar on the car this weekend, which was a fun deal."

Tomorrow morning in the first-round of action, Wilkerson will up go against Mike Ashley.  This will be the second week in a row and the forth time this year the two are first-round opponents.  Wilkerson has one win in their match-ups.

"Hopefully we can go out there and run a low 4.90, high 4.80 and make him beat us," said Wilkerson.  "We're increasing our chances of beating him every time we meet, so maybe tomorrow will be our day."

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