Jeff Wilson Memphis wrap up

Wilson scores semifinal finish in Memphis

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - In just his first race with new crew chief Marc White, defending two-time NHRA Division 3 Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Jeff Wilson scored a semifinal finish during this past weekend's Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Memphis Motorsports Park. Wilson's Torco Race Fuels/STARCON dragster was the quickest blown alcohol machine of the weekend, and new crew chief White feels more is in store.

Wilson, from Winfield, Mo., qualified the Torco Race Fuels/STARCON dragster fourth in the field with a 5.530 second time at 250.74 mph. In round one, he defeated a red-lighting Shelly Howard with a 5.499 at 252.61 mph, the quickest e.t. of a blown car all weekend. In his semifinal bout with Ashley Force, Wilson dropped slightly off his earlier pace to a 5.533 at 249.76 mph, which wasn't enough to catch Force's 5.531 at 260.41 mph.

"We feel like it was a pretty good weekend," said Wilson. "We ran pretty well with a new combination, a couple new crew guys and a new crew chief, and we didn't tear anything up. Marc and Tim are still getting used to the differences in a dragster and funny car. We hopped it up a little bit there for the semifinals against Ashley, and the track went away a little bit, so it bit us."

With the Division 3 opener in Indy just three weeks away, the team plans to spare no time getting ready.

"Marc is taking the motor to the dyno at Fred Mandolini's shop," stated Wilson. "Then we'll take what we learned there and test it at Joliet. We really want to be prepared for the first Division 3 race in Indy."

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