Funny Car team owner/driver Tim Wilkerson was presented the second annual 1320 TV-sponsored Mike Aiello Award before opening ceremonies of the Auto Club of Southern California Finals Sunday morning at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

 

The award honors Aiello, a longtime drag-racing fan and former Pro Stock crew member for Jerry Yeoman, who spent his final years confined to a wheelchair after a workplace injury. Despite physical hardship and severe mobility limitations, he not only attended drag races but made dozens of friends among racers, crew members, and media with his positive outlook and unselfish behavior.

 

Aiello passed away December 29, 2006, at age 39, in Santa Monica, California. 

 

The recipient is someone who has persevered and remained positive in spite of hardship.

 

Wilkerson, who drives the Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala, hasn't endured physical adversity. But before this spectacular season, he won five races -- including the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis -- while struggling as an independent against the multicar teams and their seemingly endless resources.

 

The Mike Aiello Award, dubbed by the media as "The Spirit of Drag Racing Award" last year when John Medlen was the inaugural recipient, honors determination. And Wilkerson certainly exhibited that this year, parlaying his experience into a data-gathering alliance with Don Prudhomme's Snake Racing that contributed to a class-best six victories and the 42-18 elimination-round mark. Wilkerson led the Funny Car standings from his May 4 St. Louis victory through his Sept. 1 semifinal finish at Indianapolis to claim the "regular-season championship."

 

In accepting the award, Wilkerson said, "That's a great honor. That makes me proud, too. Mike was a great guy.

 

"I know John (Medlen) did get this last year. Any time you're mentioned with the Medlens, you're in a good group."