Sonoma: Tim Wilkerson Friday notes

TEAM WILKERSON RACINGLEVI, RAY & SHOUP NHRA Nitro Funny Car

"Notes & Quotes" from Tim Wilkerson, driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Shelby Mustang Funny Car, after Friday's qualifying sessions at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

WILK POWERS FORTH, TO 4th

Tim Wilkerson joined in as part of a horsepower party on Friday night in Sonoma, after the evening marine layer rolled in over the hills, the temperature plummeted, and some of the best runs in many a month were posted on the board. Wilk's 4.129 was good enough for the No. 4 spot overnight, and his slight disappointment in the effort is perhaps simply nothing more than a sign of a guy who currently has a very good hot rod.

"I kind of messed up on the clutch timing there, and it really slowed the car down in the middle of the track, otherwise we might have been a lot quicker," Wilkerson said. "Once that layer of fog rolled over the hill, which kind of slapped us upside the head and reminded us we're basically in San Francisco, the track was pretty strong out there and you could pour the coals to it pretty good. We were real strong off the line, and charging hard at the end, but it just kind of groaned through the middle of the track. Nothing but a mistake in the way we set up the clutch, because it did exactly what we told it to do.

"That right there was what this Western Swing is all about. We go up on the mountain in Denver and broil in thin air. We go to Seattle and it's still hot, but at least we're back to sea level. Then we come here, and just like Sonoma it's hot all day and everyone's sweating, but then the evening fog rolls in over the hills and the thermometer just heads for the basement. People were digging for jackets and sweatshirts they haven't used since Pomona. What it gave us, though, was a great track and a chance to all run pretty strong, so even though we left a little on the table I'm a happy guy to have gotten the LRS Shelby down there with a good number and to be up there in fourth when so many good teams were putting good laps on the board."

-credit: twr