Second-generation Wilkerson to drive dad's car at IHRA event 

NHRA Funny Car point leader Tim Wilkerson has spent much of the 2008 season trailblazing his way round the country securing victories and top qualifying positions.

Later this month, he’ll get to see his car run from a different perspective – the outside.

Wilkerson will step aside in two weeks to allow his 20-year old son Dan to drive during the IHRA Motor City Nationals in Milan, Michigan, May 23 – 25, 2008.

“I am about as excited as he is,” Tim Wilkerson said. “We had planned this outing at the beginning of the year and I wanted him to keep his license and to do that you have to race a couple of times a year. We decided we were going to (run Dan) unless things were going really bad in the season.”

Second-generation Wilkerson to drive dad's car at IHRA event 

NHRA Funny Car point leader Tim Wilkerson has spent much of the 2008 season trailblazing his way round the country securing victories and top qualifying positions.

Later this month, he’ll get to see his car run from a different perspective – the outside.

Wilkerson will step aside in two weeks to allow his 20-year old son Dan to drive during the IHRA Motor City Nationals in Milan, Michigan, May 23 – 25, 2008.

“I am about as excited as he is,” Tim Wilkerson said. “We had planned this outing at the beginning of the year and I wanted him to keep his license and to do that you have to race a couple of times a year. We decided we were going to (run Dan) unless things were going really bad in the season.”

Things have been anything but bad for the elder Wilkerson as he’s driven the same car that will be in Milan to two NHRA POWERade victories and four top qualifying positions.

 

I would love to (take over the ride), but (my dad) is going to be driving until he’s got a Social Security check in the mail. He really loves the sport and he loves driving. - Dan Wilkerson on dad Tim Wilkerson

“I’m going to approach this like any other race,” said the younger Wilkerson. “I will treat it no different than a bracket race around home. I’ll just go out there and try my best and if it works that’s fine. If it doesn’t, that’s fine too.”

Initial plans called for the Wilkersons to use their old “beater” Dodge body, but since the elder Wilkerson has a program with General Motors [not to mention the event is sponsored by GM Performance Parts], he’ll likely use the spare Impala body.

The second-generation Wilkerson is an accomplished racer in the Top Alcohol Funny Car division. He became a licensed Funny Car driver last year during a test session at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. He’s splitting his time between working on his dad’s Funny Car, racing his alcohol car and going to college.

Dan is currently is currently a sophomore at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, where he’s studying to be an accountant. He’s only weeks away from an Associate degree.

The kid is more than ready for this monumental challenge.

“I’m not really nervous at all,” Wilkerson admitted. “I’ve gotten to a point in driving my alcohol car that I’ve learned when it is safe and unsafe to keep my foot in the throttle. I feel like I’ve reached a level of common sense to know when to say when.”

Dan has proven to be comfortable behind the throttle as he turned in a 4.98 elapsed time at 302 miles per hour on his first run in the nitro car.

“He asked me how far to drive it,” Tim recalled. “I asked him if he knew where the end was and when he said he did, I told him to drive it, shut the throttle off and throw the ‘chutes. He shut it off 5.15 on the dot. If he drove it a half car beyond the line, that’s as far as he went.

“He was a little slow at getting the ‘chutes out and I bitched at him about that. That’s typical because you’re not good at first when you’re running that fast about getting them out. You tend to shut the throttle before you throw the ‘chutes.

There are two factors which could inspire Tim to experience uneasiness during the weekend in Milan. The first is the mere presence of his son rocketing down the quarter-mile at 300 miles per hour and the other is that his own recent success would make stepping aside difficult.

“I think I’ll be alright, I watch him get his license so that aspect wasn’t too terribly mentally,” Wilkerson admitted. “Since it’s him driving I won’t mind standing on the outside, I just hope he doesn’t do so well to the point people will be demanding that I retire so he can take over.”

Retirement is likely out of the question but a father can't help to be proud of how enthusiastic his son is approaching the challenge.  

“I am pumped like never before,” the younger Wilkerson said. “I’m pumped even more knowing that we have the car to beat. I’m confident we should be able to kick some butt at that race. I was already excited because driving a fuel car is a pretty exciting experience. Now I am getting competitive.”

Enthusiasm or not, Dan is headed into the weekend knowing that regardless of how well he does, the seat belongs to his dad.

“I would love to (take over the ride), but (my dad) is going to be driving until he’s got a Social Security check in the mail,” Dan said. “He really loves the sport and he loves driving.”