Wilkerson looking to go back to way it was

BRAINERD, Prerace: Funny Car veteran, Tim Wilkerson is heading into this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) with one wish. That wish is to get is Levi, Ray & Shoup Impala SS back to the way it ran just a few short weeks ago.

Wilkerson may not have been winning races, but his hot rod was able to go down the track without the dreaded ailment that befalls fuel cars, "smoking the tires." And with that monster seemingly off his back, Wilkerson was able to make some good runs, win a few rounds and even earned a coveted No. 1 qualifier. But all his good fortune seemed to elude Wilkerson during the past three races, known as the Western Swing.

"All I'm looking for is to get back to running down the track like we did before the Western Swing," said Wilkerson. "We were going along pretty good and then we went out west and things seemed to change. I think we can get back to how things were, and that would certainly make the back half of the year better for this Levi, Ray & Shoup team."

Just a few short years ago, Wilkerson broke a track E.T. record on his way to a No. 1 qualifier and had a final-round appearance at BIR, which goes to show that the talented tuner and driver certainly knows how to handle the Minnesota quarter-mile. So, this weekend may just be the time for Wilkerson to get what he wishes – getting back to the way it was.