Wilkerson stays in the show

Seattle, Saturday - Funny Car pro, Tim Wilkerson was able to keep his Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the show at the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals. By holding onto the No. 16 qualifying spot, Wilkerson will be part of race day action at Pacific Raceways.

On his first run of the day, Wilkerson sailed down the track, and improved upon yesterday's evening run by posting a 5.058 at 301.00 mph. Then in the sweltering afternoon heat, Wilkerson smoked the tires and coasted across the finish line with an 8.550 elapsed time.

"It feels better being in the show," said Wilkerson. "We got lucky and made a nice run early today. It's still not performing the way it's suppose to, we're just going down a different path with the clutch. It should have gone a little faster, but it didn't."

For the second time this season and the second time in their careers, Wilkerson will face Robert Hight in the first-round tomorrow. And the weather forecast calls for the same hot weather that has plagued the teams all weekend.

"We're going to try something a little different tomorrow," said Wilkerson. "Hight will be tough but with the hot track conditions we're going to face, anything can happen."