NHRA: Wilkerson Figuring Out His Mustang Just In Time

NHRA

NHRA: Wilkerson Figuring Out His Mustang Just In Time

It may have taken Tim Wilkerson a while to get his first win in a Ford but now he’s making a trend of it, taking the last two races on the Western Swing.

Amanda Brahler | http://www.go2geiger.com | Posted August 02, 2009 Porter, TX

It has taken a bit of time, but Wilkerson is getting the hang of what's needed to make his Mustang fly. (Go2Geiger.com)

It may have taken Tim Wilkerson a while to get his first win behind the wheel of a Ford but now he’s making a trend of it, taking the last two races on the Western Swing.

"I think we just didn’t have much racing luck," Wilkerson said of his early struggles this year. "We had a pretty good car most of the time. Every time we got our stuff together, it seemed like the guy we were racing had it just a little bit better.

"When you are climbing your way up in the points, it’s good to come away with a win of any kind. The competition is so tough. Whenever you can beat any of the guys, it’s a good day."

The 48-year-old Wilkerson entered uncharted waters at the beginning of the season after announcing an alliance with second-year racer Bob Tasca III as the move meant that Wilkerson would have to abandon bowties in favor of ovals.

After all, it was a Chevrolet that he ran to much success in 2008, nabbing six total wins and positioning himself at the top of the point standings for most of the season until the Countdown threw a wrench into his title hopes.

"We still run our car and Chris (Cunningham, Tasca’s crew chief) runs his car, we just swap ideas back and forth," Wilkerson said of his current arrangement. "I really think it is really working well."

The only notable difference that Wilkerson cited fell early on, in the way he drove his new Levi, Ray & Shoup Shelby Mustang. A difference he says, that caused him to smoke the tires a handful of times before he adjusted his driving style.

"I don’t think there is a lot of difference between the two car makes," Wilkerson said. "I think the Ford is a little slipperier than my pedal was. It’s wider and smaller and has a little less drag. That threw me for a loop a little bit.

"I tended to run a little easier on the racetracks and not give it all the power I gave the other one. After I figured it out, I came to love the way the thing works. It’s hard to complain about it."

After overcoming the learning curves with his new speedster, Wilkerson finally hit the jackpot in Seattle with his first win of the season, followed up a week late in Sonoma for back-to-back Wallys. The wins mean a lot to the Wilkerson camp as he solidifies his position to fourth in the point standings, eyeing a solid entry into the playoffs once the Countdown begins in about a month.

Tasca is also looking good in the point standings, sitting sixth during his sophomore effort. Tasca has one win to date, scored earlier in the season in Gainesville, Fla., which he earned by beating Tony Pedregon.

"I think being in their second year really is a big deal," Wilkerson said. "Your first year, you’re trying to line up crew members and race your car. They had a decent car last year but when you get behind, it’s really hard to get back. I don’t think our alliance is hurting any but they already have a pretty good car and they are good racers.

“There is no room for error now. It’s good to have us both up in the points at this point. You think, 'Well, there’s time left.' But now there is no time left. Just because you don’t win doesn’t mean you’re a team that doesn’t have a chance. We’ve proven that. We had a really bad first half of the year. Now our car is a little better than it was. Things happen, guys go rounds, it changes every week."

As the series takes a break in action to catch its breath following the Swing, 2008 champion Cruz Pedregon is hanging by a thread to the final slot into the Countdown with just a six-point advantage over rookie Matt Hagan.

"We had a good year last year but (Cruz) got us at the end," Wilkerson said. "They're in a predicament now. Maybe this year it can work to our advantage when we get to the Countdown and only be two rounds out (of first). That would be spectacular. As long as we win races, we have ammunition to go in there with."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Brahler

Go2Geiger.com

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