Everyone looks for good luck when they are in Las Vegas and Funny Car pro, Tim Wilkerson had hoped to have some for his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Impala SS today at the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But at the close of the first day it looks like Wilkerson is going to have to wait until tomorrow, as he sits in the 19th qualifying spot.
Wilkerson’s first run was a little slow because he dropped a cylinder around half-track and then lost the blower belt, but he still posted a 4.896 at 292.14 mph. At the close of the session, Wilkerson was qualified No. 9. On the second pass, he again dropped a cylinder, this time at the hit of the throttle. Wilkerson only posted a 4.950 but with more mph at 305.08. But with much of his competition improving, Wilkerson slid down the ladder and out of the show.
“Our first pass should have been a 4.82 or 83, ” said Wilkerson, “but it dropped a cylinder around half track. Then on the second pass, it dropped one just after I stepped on the gas. It just doesn’t have enough load in it for what we’re trying to do. We need to get her to run tomorrow. It’s been on seven cylinders on both runs. So, we have to figure out how to get her tuned-up so she’s got enough on her to go. Everything else seems okay; we just have to have eight holes.
“We were looking to go a high 70 on the second pass. And from the data from our first run, I thought we’d be able to, but she didn’t cooperate. We’ll just tune her up and try again tomorrow. ”
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