Wilkerson Gives Team Valvoline Funny Car Win in Texas
In the NHRA race at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas, Valvoline driver Tim Wilkerson was the Funny Car winner and jumped into first place in the Countdown to 1 championship.
Wilkerson defeated John Force in the semifinal round before edging Tony Pedregon in the final. It was Wilkerson's fifth win of the season.
"Beating John Force and then beating Tony Pedregon, both champions, right? To be a champion you got to beat the champions, and that's our goal," Wilkerson said. "That's what we came out to do this year. We're not going to back down from that goal."
Jack Beckman, who drives the Valvoline Dodge, lost in the semifinal round. He is third in the Funny Car championship point standings.
Tony Schumacher, who leads in the Top Fuel dragster division, lost in the final round to J.R. Todd, snapping a seven-race win streak.
"It had to end some time," said Schumacher. "You have to tip your hat to J.R. and his team. They did what they had to do."
In Saturday's Craftsman Truck race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Team Valvoline driver Erik Darnell finished second to Mike Skinner.
The following are Valvoline Racing NHRA Team Results
NHRA POWERade Series
Sept. 21
Texas Motorplex
Ennis, Texas
Top Fuel:
Antron Brown, David Powers Motorsports
Lost in Quarterfinal
Point Standing: 2nd
Rod Fuller, David Powers Motorsports
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 7th
Cory McClenathan, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 3rd
Tony Schumacher, Don Schumacher Racing
Runner-up
Point Standing: 1st
Bob Vandergriff Jr., Vandergriff Motorsports
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 13th
Funny Car
Jack Beckman, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in Semifinal Round
Point Standing: 3rd
Ron Capps, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 9th
Gary Scelzi, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 14th
Jerry Toliver, Don Schumacher Racing
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 15th
Tim Wilkerson
Won Event
Point Standing: 1st
Pro Stock
Ron Krisher
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 10th
Pro Stock Motorcycle
Chip Ellis
Lost in Quarterfinal Round
Point Standing: 6th
Craig Treble
Lost in First Round
Point Standing: 9th
Next NHRA Event
Sept. 28
Memphis Motorsports Parks
Memphis, Tenn.
