Mac Tools U.S. Nationals
Indianapolis, Ind.
(Sept. 1-6)
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Tim Wilkerson Levi, Ray, & Shoup Monte Carlo Funny Car |
Reports: Monday Sunday Saturday Friday Pre-race |
Indianapolis, Monday: Springfield, Illinois' favorite Funny Car driver, Tim Wilkerson had a great showing today at the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, a race he won last year. But the day didn't last to the winner's circle this year for the Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Monte Carlo.
In the first round of eliminations, Wilkerson easily sailed by his struggling opponent, Eric Medlen, running 4.971 seconds at 311.77 mph. Then Wilkerson's hopes for a repeat were dashed in the second round, as he didn't have enough to hold off his opponent, Cruz Pedregon. As Wilkerson did his burnout, the team could see that only seven cylinders were firing in Wilkerson's nitro burning power plant. And yet, he ran what he always does on seven cylinders, a respectable 5.023 E.T. But it wasn't enough against Pedregon's 4.899 E.T.
"We really thought it was going to be a pretty good day when it first stared," said Wilkerson. "But then we had a malfunction in the motor and number seven cylinder wouldn't fire when we were warming up for second round. We thought we had it fixed and we took it back up there, but it still wasn't fixed. It's live and learn I guess. There's not much we can do about it now.
"We would have liked to do better today because Dick Levi and some guests joined us, and we would have liked to show them a better time. But instead we'll just get all our junk together and go onto the next race and try to do better."
Indianapolis, Sunday: Qualifying is set for the 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the most prestigious event on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Tour. Reigning Funny Car Champion, Tim Wilkerson qualified his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Monte Carlo in the No. 12 position during a long day filled with trials and triumphs.
Today's first qualifying session was also the first round of the Skoal Showdown. For only the second time in his Funny Car career Wilkerson was part of this elite event. In this round Wilkerson faced off against Whit Bazemore. Wilkerson made a strong pass down the left lane posting a 4.918 at 314.39 mph against Bazemore's tire smoking 10.548. Wilkerson advanced to the Showdown's semifinal round where he met up with Gary Densham. This time Wilkerson was the victim of tire-smoke and he coasted across the finish line as Densham, the eventual Skoal Showdown Champion, got the win light. This round did not count toward qualifying so Wilkerson had another chance to move out of his No. 14 spot. The team struggled with some mechanical problems between rounds and this time Wilkerson rolled into the staging lane at the last minute. But all turned out well as the Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo posted a qualifying best of 4.898 at 315.56 mph, which moved Wilkerson up into the No. 12 spot.
"Our first pass today was a good run," said Wilkerson, "so I figured we had her set and then we come back to the pit and have problems. We thought we went the right way fixing them but obviously, we didn't because we went out there and smoked the tires. So we came back and said we needed to figure out what was wrong with the stinking thing so we hustled our butt trying to make it to the starting line and it actually acted like we thought it would and ran down the track and everything worked out okay.
"I can't say enough about my guys. We're living on three hours of sleep and they did a tremendous job. I think we owed it to them to win today's deal. I'm a little disappointed in myself for not making a good decision for the second round. All we can do is the best we can and I thought I made the right decision; I just went the wrong way."
Wilkerson will face Eric Medlen in the first round of eliminations tomorrow morning. As reigning champion, Wilkerson knows he can win, but has a few concerns about today's problems.
"I don't know how this motor deal is going to treat us," said Wilkerson. "I guess we're going to have to trying and figure that out. Hopefully everything will be good and with any luck we'll be able just go like last year; one round at a time."
Indianapolis, Saturday: Today's qualifying at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals had its ups and downs for Springfield, Ill. native, Tim Wilkerson. The day started on a positive note but ended in an uncharacteristic fashion for the usually non-destructive Wilkerson.
In the day's first qualifying session, Wilkerson was the only Funny Car to run quicker in the heat of the afternoon than he did last night. Even though he improved to a 4.923, it was not enough to move him out of the No. 10 spot.
It was on his late night pass, where Wilkerson ran into some trouble and slowed to a 4.974 at 260.26 mph. As he neared the finish line, the burst panel sailed into the air and Wilkerson experienced a percussion that did heavy damage to the hood and nose of the beautiful Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Monte Carlo. At the end of the session, Wilkerson found himself in the 15th qualifying position.
"Our first pass was a step in the right direction," said Wilkerson. "On the second run it was doing just what we expected. It was trucking right on through there and was going to run a 4.84 or 85. We still don't know what happened to it. We've got one little piece of Teflon missing out of the blower is all we could find. It obviously run down there and got underneath the valve. There's nothing wrong with it, the motor doesn't look like we ran it, which is what it should look like.
"We're working on repairing the body. The guys are going to try and glue her back together tonight so it can cure. And we've got a brand new Monte Carlo back at home and I've already called the guys there and they're going to drag it over here in case we need it."
The hard-working, dedicated Wilkerson team will work feverously through the night to repair the Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo for it's first appearance in tomorrow's Skoal Showdown. Wilkerson's first round opponent will be Whit Bazemore. Ironically, in 1999, which was Wilkerson's only other appearance in this prestigious event, he competed in a car he bought from Bazemore. This year, Wilkerson is looking for his patched Funny Car to take him past Bazemore and right through the ranks to the $100,000 prize.
Indianapolis, Friday: With only one qualifying attempt today, the reigning Mac Tools U.S. Nationals champion, Tim Wilkerson had a plan for his run and his 4.931 second 311.41 mph pass fit right into his plan.
"I figured it would run a 4.90 or so," said Wilkerson. " The weather was just a little ahead of me. I wasn't trying to knock their heads off. I wasn't like the rest of them guys, some of them had some good runs out there."
The Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo that is qualified in the No. 10 spot was one of the few Funny Cars to make it down the left lane.
"The left lane wasn't as good as the right lane," said Wilkerson, "there's no doubt about that. So, we just puttered down through there trying to learn how to run our car some more. She did just what we wanted her to do and we're ready to do it again tomorrow."
Indianapolis, pre-race: The defending Mac Tools U. S. Nationals Funny Car champion, Tim Wilkerson is anxiously looking forward to putting his skills and talents to work again on the Indianapolis Raceway Park quarter-mile for this weekend's 50th annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Taking the Levi, Ray & Shoup fuel coupe to the winner's circle last year is a highlight in Wilkerson's career that will shine forever and coming into this prestigious event as the reigning champion puts extra pressure on the ambitious Wilkerson to try to repeat.
"I really don't think about the pressure," said Wilkerson. "I don't care about that kind of stuff. I know everybody tested here last week and that there were fast times, so I just want to qualify in the top half of the field and learn how to make our car run better. If we do that and go a few rounds on Monday, I may just be reigning champ again."
On Sunday, eight Funny Cars will run the Skoal Showdown, a race within the race. The teams earned points for the past year in an attempt to qualify. Wilkerson is one of only a few teams that earned the honor to race for the $100,000 prize, and the only driver from a single-car team. This will be Wilkerson's second appearance in the Skoal Showdown in his Funny Car career and the first time he will be taking his Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo.
"I'm looking forward to being in the Skoal Showdown," said Wilkerson, "and it's pretty cool to be the only single-car team. We usually qualified in the top half of the field so we thought we had a good chance to qualify for the Showdown. But we need to try and not get too caught up in the pressure and excitement. We come to the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals for the race and the Skoal Showdown is a bonus. We think that if it's hot and nasty on Sunday, we should go a few rounds and maybe get the big check."
The Springfield, Ill., native is a hometown favorite and celebrity; and due to the close proximity of Springfield to Indianapolis the stands will be full of fans, including the famous "Wilk Warriors," Wilkerson family and friends and sponsor guests; all very supportive of what Wilkerson and his team can and will accomplish this weekend.
"With all the momentum that Tim has going," said Dick Levi of Levi, Ray & Shoup, "the folks at LRS are really excited about the upcoming U.S. Nationals in Indy. We'd love to see Tim bring home the championship two years in a row, and win the Skoal Showdown while he's at it. I'm bringing several friends on Labor Day to see Tim, his crew and the LRS Monte Carlo in the winner's circle."
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