Tim Wilkerson Climbs-Up To Winner’s Circle At St. Louis
May 04, 2008
NHRA
MADISON: It was a fairy tale weekend for Springfield, Ill. Funny Car favorite, Tim Wilkerson. Wilkerson and his Levi, Ray & Shoup team racked up a long list of “firsts” as they powered their way to their second win of the season at the O’Reilly Midwest Nationals.
Wilkerson started the weekend with a No.1 qualifying position, his fourth of the young season. This pole was extra special because Gateway International Raceway is Wilkerson’s home track and the closest to LRS’s corporate headquarters. Gateway was filled to the gills with Wilkerson friends, family, sponsor, Dick Levi and his employees and friends. Earning another top qualifier put Wilkerson first in the U.S. Smokeless Showdown battle. The team topped this off by earning another Full Throttle Pit Crew Challenge Award, their third of the season.
Then today Wilkerson climbed his way through the ranks all the way to the winner’s circle. Wilkerson had to earn every one of his wins, none were handed to him. But he and his dedicated crew were up to the challenge and had the beautiful LRS Impala SS running flawlessly. Wilkerson took down Tony Bartone in the first-round with a 4.82. He then lost lane choice to Del Worsham, but ran the quickest of the session, a 4.826 in the troublesome right lane. In the semifinal round he took down Cruz Pedregon with a 4.829. Then in the final-round Wilk faced off against Mike Neff. Reminiscent of his win several weeks ago in Las Vegas when Wilk denied Ashley Force of her first win, he was able to deny another Force team member of his first win. Wilkerson took out Neff in a close side-by-side race, with a 4.874 over Neff’s 4.886.
“We had a really good car this weekend,” said Wilkerson. “We had the same car last week in Atlanta, but we just got beat early. So, we tried to bring that momentum here to St. Louis and we’re glad to do it in front of the home crowd. We’re really glad to have Dick here yesterday. He doesn’t get to enough races in my opinion, so we like to see him show up. And I’m glad all the guys that work for me were here, all the guys I went to school with, all my buddies from home, the Wilk Warriors, even my pop was here and it’s so cool they were all here to share this with us.“
With this win, for the first time in his career, Wilkerson moved into the NHRA POWERade points lead, taking it away from Ashley Force.
“Being the points leader is everyone’s dream and it’s what you come out here for,” expressed Wilkerson, “but there is no way I could ever dream this up, really. I’m confident in our car and the abilities of our crew, but I really didn’t think we could pull this off. I’m kind of happy so many guys are struggling because it makes me really look good. But right now we are going to cherish our No. 1 spot.”
As Wilkerson makes the short 90 mile trip home he’ll be able to let the exciting events of the weekend soak in and perhaps dream of a happily ever after ending to his fairy tale season.
