Wilkerson ready for Dallas challenge

Ennis, prerace: Funny Car pro, Tim Wilkerson takes things in stride. When last weekend's Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals was postponed due to the rain and mud that overtook Maple Grove Raceway, Wilkerson took advantage of the extra time. The team made a quick trip back to the race shop in Springfield, Ill. to change their strategy before heading off to the Texas Motorplex in Ennis for the O'Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals.

The racing conditions, at the two facilities, are extremely different. Even though Wilkerson didn't get to race at Maple Grove, the Levi, Ray & Shoup Monte Carlo was set-up for the cooler temperature and special air conditions. But this weekend the Texas Motorplex offers a different challenge. With hot temperatures forecasted, the track will be hot and slippery, and it's known to have a narrow groove. Wilkerson would have liked to make some runs in Reading in order to add to his very valuable database of information before heading to Dallas.

"It's too bad we didn't get to race last weekend in Reading," said Wilkerson, "because we wanted the run data. Data is so valuable. We try to learn something on every run, so when we lose out, it hurts. We made a change in the motor and we wanted to see how it worked. We'll see in Dallas of course, but there will be a completely different set of conditions. If it's hot out and the track is hot, it's going to be a challenge just to make it down the track. So, we'll have to change our strategy, but I'm confident that we'll be able to figure things out and make some good passes."