Tim Wilkerson looks to back up his Funny Car win in Chicago as the NHRA rolls into New England Dragway in Epping, N.H. this weekend. (Photo: Auto Imagery)
EPPING, N.H. – Tim Wilkerson picked up his first win in 33 races two weeks ago in Chicago. This weekend in Epping, Wilkerson looks to turn that into a win streak.
The win was important for Wilkerson and his new sponsor Scag Power Equipment as it was the first Wally since their partnership, but it was much bigger than that for Wilkerson and his team.
“It was important for a lot of things,” he said. “For morale for the team, for my confidence as a tuner, and for the guys who work so hard. Having 500 Scag employees there on Saturday and us doing so well on Sunday is really a blessing.”
He said the win in his last race won’t really impact how he and his team set about their business in New Hampshire this weekend. It’s a different track with a different approach.
NHRA New England Nationals (Photo: Auto Imagery)
“It doesn’t [change the mindset],” he said. “I go place to place and worry about the place I’m at. I run the run I think I can get away with every week, every run, every lane. I call it a 24-hour rule. Win, lose or draw, 24 hours after, it’s behind us.”
In order to start stacking wins, Wilkerson said it will be important to be as consistent as possible. Weather conditions during Friday’s qualifying were completely different from how Saturday and Sunday are expected to be, so the team will get no viable data from that run. But it puts an added emphasis on Saturday qualifying, which will double as the Mission Foods 2 Fast 2 Tasty challenge.
“I think we just have to still be consistent in running our car,” he said. “That’s where we were last weekend. We weren’t the fastest car, we were the best car. There’s a difference.”
As he looks to have the best car again this week in Epping, Wilkerson thinks he already has the best crew behind him, and that is where he attributes his recent success.
2023 NHRA Arizona Nationals (Photo: Auto Imagery)
“Just all the good people I have,” he said. “Richard Hartman is my right-hand man and all the kids who have been with me for four or five years. I wouldn’t even need to show up until it was time to drive, outside of turning the knobs, they do such a great job.”
Those “kids” are the only crew in the NHRA who have their own nickname: Wilk’s Warriors — A moniker Wilkerson said that he enjoys.
“That started at home (in St. Louis),” Wilkerson said. “A bunch of fans at St. Louis had a big sign on the fence that said, ‘Wilks Warriors’ and there’s thousands of them now. I am lucky they recognize these guys and the great work they do. I am fortunate to have this group.”
Wilkerson’s fans have since adopted the name themselves, and “Wilk’s Warriors” will be out in force in Epping on Sunday, both in the stands and getting his Funny Car ready to what he hopes is a second win in a row.
