Tim Wilkerson joined the majority by not making a full pass down the Houston Raceway Park during the first qualifying session, but then came back and ran with most of the big hitters during Friday’s second run, contested at sunset on a beautiful day in Texas. Wilkerson’s 4.098 was one of three 4.09s in the session, although it was the slowest of the trio behind Jeff Arend (4.095) and Jack Beckman (4.097).
The top three spots were claimed by the JFR Ford Mustangs, as John Force paced the class with a sterling 4.021, followed by teammates Robert Hight (4.051) and Ashley Force Hood (4.060). Ron Capps slotted in at the 4th spot, with a 4.089. Wilkerson finished the day in the No. 7 spot.
“That was as nice and clean as they come, maybe just a hair too nice and clean because there was a bit more out there had we gotten after it a little,” Wilkerson said.
“If we would’ve had just a little more time, we might have put some more clutch in it, but we went with what we had and it ran good.
Maybe not great, but it was a fine run, it was straight as a string, and it came back looking happy. We’ll see what we have to work with tomorrow, in terms of track temperature in the afternoon, and we’ll see if we can peck away at it a little more. If not, and if nobody can improve in the middle of the day, we’ll go at this thing from the 7th spot and try to do some good.”
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