FUNNY CAR’S TIM WILKERSON STAYING LOCKED IN HEADING TO NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

KENT, Wash. — Tim Wilkerson is currently in a much more enviable position than he has been in previous seasons when it comes to qualifying for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Mello Countdown to the Championship.

But the popular Funny Car driver is not about to relax heading into the final leg of the three-week Western Swing. Sitting in eighth place in the points standings in his 10,000-horsepower Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang, Wilkerson already has one win and has qualified for the Traxxas Shootout.

But a victory at this weekend’s 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at scenic Pacific Raceways, a facility where he has posted three wins, would go a long way in cementing his spot in the Countdown to the Championship.

“There’s never anything comfortable about racing in the Funny Car class, because the next run can completely throw you off your approach or cost you a lot of money,” Wilkerson said. “We’re not perfect, and if we had a little better luck a few times this year we’d be in an even better position. But I prefer where we are now over those years where we went into Indy needing about eight different things to happen in order to make it. We’ve pulled off a few last-minute miracles to get into the Countdown in the past, so having a chance to just earn a spot normally is better. We just have to do it.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) were last year’s winners of the race that will again be televised on ESPN2. Serving as the only major American motorsport that visits the region each racing season, it is the 16th of 24 events in 2015, meaning just two races follow it before the Countdown to the Championship begins.

Wilkerson holds a 103-point lead over 11th-place Courtney Force, giving him a good cushion but by no means making him comfortable. Instead, Wilkerson would like to jump up further, something he is certainly capable of considering how well his car has performed for most of the season.

Wilkerson, who has 18 career wins, lost in the first round at Sonoma a week ago, but he feels like his car has the potential for more heading into a key stretch. He is just 40 points out of seventh place and believes he is just a few tweaks away from putting it all together.

“We won’t change anything heading into the Countdown,” Wilkerson said. “We still have to earn a spot so you can’t get too aggressive and outside your normal routine, but at the same time we have the chance to move up a couple of spots, too, so we’ll just focus on racing as fast as we can, lap by lap. Where we end up won’t be based on us trying to do too much or too little, because we’re trying to treat each lap like we always do. It will end up wherever it ends up.”

Being locked in heading to Seattle will be important as well since it wraps up the grueling Western Swing. Having been through this stretch repeatedly throughout his standout career, Wilkerson knows how to approach the final race of this rigorous stretch.

“In my case, it’s the owner and the tuner and the driver trying to make sure we finish strong,” Wilkerson, who broke a long winless streak with a victory in Atlanta this year. “I’m not sure a hired driver can do much to keep his crew fresh other than taking them out to dinner. But I can make sure they stay focused and get some rest, because the Western Swing covers so much ground in such a short amount of time it’s hard to not be worn out before it’s over. We get a week off after Seattle, so we can all be worn out then. The key is to get through Seattle like it’s all that matters.”

That approach has led to a good amount of success in Seattle, but Wilkerson will be tested this weekend in the always-loaded Funny Car class. Force’s Funny Car win last season marked his eighth victory at Pacific Raceways, more than double the next Funny Car competitor. Force already has two wins in 2015, but will face off against a talented host of standouts, including red-hot Jack Beckman, who will try to sweep the Western Swing in his record-setting Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T after racing to convincing victories at Denver and Sonoma.

Wilkerson will also contend with the likes of points leader and defending world champion Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, Tommy Johnson Jr., Cruz Pedregon, Robert Hight, Alexis DeJoria and Del Worsham, but Wilkerson knows he has a car that can win at Pacific Raceways.

“There’s definitely something special about Seattle, but it’s hard to put a finger on it,” Wilkerson said. “It’s a low-key place, and that suits me, but I think it’s just a track where the conditions often play into our hands. There’s usually a qualifying run or two where you can get after it, and it’s important to do that, but on Sunday in the middle of the day you have to have the ability to be on the edge without stepping over it. You can’t just go for the home run every round, or you’ll strike out in a hurry. Over the years, we’ve been able to find the edge and stay on the good side of it, and with all the good runs we’ve made in Seattle we have a lot of data to work with.”

The Top Fuel class features a host of stars, including defending event winner Kalitta, as well as four-time race winner, points leader and defending world champion Tony Schumacher, who is looking to tie Joe Amato for most Top Fuel wins at the facility. Other standouts who expect to compete for the event win include 2012 world champ and 2009 Seattle winner Antron Brown, who won last weekend in Sonoma, 2003 winner and three-time world champ Larry Dixon, Brittany Force, Spencer Massey, J.R. Todd, Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence and Richie Crampton.

Line’s win over teammate Greg Anderson one year ago gave the two-time Pro Stock world champ his third Seattle victory, tying him with Anderson and Kurt Johnson for second all-time. Line has two wins in 2015 and he joins teammate and points leader Anderson, who has four wins at Seattle, in searching for more Pacific Raceways glory. Defending world champ and 2012 event winner Erica Enders, 2012 world champ Allen Johnson, Vincent Nobile, Larry Morgan, Drew Skillman and Chris McGaha, who won his first career Pro Stock race last weekend, all figure to be drivers to watch in the 200-mph factory hot rod category.

The NHRA Northwest Nationals also will feature thrilling side-by-side competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they’re granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Aug. 7, with sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9.

To purchase tickets, call (800) 884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. For more information about the NHRA visit www.NHRA.com.

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NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS FACT SHEET

WHAT: 28th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals, the 16th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Drivers in three categories – Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock – earn points leading to 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships.

WHERE: Pacific Raceways, Kent, Wash. The track is located 10 miles east of Interstate 5 on Highway 18. From I-5, use Exit 142A (Auburn exit) and travel east 10 miles on Highway 18, following the signs to the track. From other points, use Highway 18 and exit S.E. 304th St. or S.E. 312th St.

COURSE: Championship drag strip; Track elevation is 280 feet above sea level; Track direction is east to west.

WHEN: Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9

SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, Aug. 7 – LUCAS OIL SERIES qualifying

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, Aug. 8 – LUCAS OIL SERIES eliminations

MELLO YELLO SERIES qualifying at 1 and 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, Aug. 9 – Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.

MELLO YELLO SERIES eliminations begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:

Saturday, Aug. 8, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 11 p.m. (ET).

Sunday, Aug. 9, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations coverage starting at 9 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE (Digital HD feed):

Saturday, Aug. 8, 9:30 – 10 p.m. (ET), SES 1/Transponder 22C

Sunday, Aug. 9, 9 – 9:30 p.m. (ET), SES 1/ Transponder 22C

(4140 MHz, horizontal; Data Rate: 40.46147055 Mbp; Symbol Rate: 29.27 Ms; FEC: ¾; Bandwidth: 36 Mhz)

Video news release contains race action highlights each day and winners’ interviews on Sunday.

2014 EVENT WINNERS: Doug Kalitta, Top Fuel; John Force, Funny Car; Jason Line, Pro Stock.

MOST VICTORIES: John Force, 8, FC; Bob Glidden, 6, PS; Joe Amato, 5, TF; Tony Schumacher, 4, TF; Warren Johnson, 4, PS.

TRACK RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.765 sec. by Shawn Langdon, Aug. ’13; 322.19 mph by Tony Schumacher, July ’10.

Funny Car – 4.049 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’13; 308.85 mph by John Force, Aug. ’11.

Pro Stock – 6.526 sec. and 212.29 mph by Mike Edwards, Aug. ’13.

NATIONAL RECORDS:

Top Fuel – 3.701 sec. by Antron Brown, Oct. ‘12, Reading, Pa.; 332.51 mph by Larry Dixon, June ’15, Norwalk, Ohio.

Funny Car – 3.921 sec. by Jack Beckman, Aug. ’15, Sonoma, Calif.; 325.06 mph by Courtney Force, May ’15, Topeka, Kan.

Pro Stock – 6.455 sec. by Jason Line, March ’15, Charlotte, N.C.; 215.55 mph by Erica Enders, May ‘14, Englishtown N.J.

TICKETS: For tickets call (800) 884-NHRA (6472). Tickets may also be purchased online at http://www.NHRA.com/tickets.

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NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

GLENDORA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 15th of 24 events in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel: 1. Tony Schumacher, 1,206*; 2. Antron Brown, 1,169*; 3. Larry Dixon, 960; 4. Doug Kalitta, 912; 5. Richie Crampton, 901; 6. Spencer Massey, 820; 7. Brittany Force, 794; 8. Steve Torrence, 783; 9. J.R. Todd, 782; 10. Shawn Langdon, 780.

Funny Car: 1. Matt Hagan, 1,142*; 2. Jack Beckman, 1,085; 3. John Force, 948; 4. Tommy Johnson Jr., 947; 5. Ron Capps, 935; 6. Del Worsham, 902; 7. Cruz Pedregon, 855; 8. Tim Wilkerson, 815; 9. Robert Hight, 784; 10. Alexis DeJoria, 765.

Pro Stock: 1. Greg Anderson, 1,263*; 2. Erica Enders, 1,216*; 3. Jason Line, 1,069*; 4. Chris McGaha, 1,053; 5. Allen Johnson, 877; 6. Larry Morgan, 874; 7. Drew Skillman, 779; 8. Jonathan Gray, 761; 9. Shane Gray, 757; 10. Vincent Nobile, 735.

Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1. Eddie Krawiec, 702; 2. Hector Arana Jr, 596; 3. Andrew Hines, 546; 4. Karen Stoffer, 468; 5. Jim Underdahl, 459; 6. Jerry Savoie, 429; 7. Hector Arana, 417; 8. Matt Smith, 389; 9. Scotty Pollacheck, 376; 10. Angelle Sampey, 336.

*Driver has clinched a berth in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs.