QUICK FACTS
Category: Funny Car
2008 car: Levi, Ray, & Shoup Ford Mustang
Crew chief: Tim Wilkerson
Team owner: Tim Wilkerson
2009 wins/final rounds: 2/2
Career wins/final rounds: 13/22
Best points finish: 2nd (2008)
First start: Gainesville 1996
First victory: Chicago 1999
First No. 1 qualifying position: St. Louis 1998
Career No. 1 qualifying awards: 14
Career-best elapsed time 1/4 mile: 4.723 seconds (Pomona 1 2007)
Career-best 1000-foot: 4.071 (Richmond, 2008)
Career-best speed 1/4 mile: 330.47 mph (Pomona 2 2006)
Career-best 1000-foot: 307.16 (Houston, 2009)
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Residence: Springfield, Ill.
Hometown: Springfield, Ill.
Date of birth: December 29, 1960
Wife: Kristina
Sons: Daniel (4/2/88) and Kevin (1/15/90)
Daughter: Rachel (10/18/91)
Hobbies: Fishing and hunting, collecting and restoring classic cars
Notable: Owns Wilkerson's Service Center in Springfield, Ill and seventh Funny Car driver to break the four-second barrier
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2008: Enjoyed his best season on record with six wins in seven final-round appearances, one more win than he’d earned in his previous 11 years combined. Entered the Countdown to the Championship playoffs first in the point standings. Led the points for a portion of the playoffs, but dropped to second after a first-round loss to Mike Neff at Las Vegas 2; A first-round loss to John Force at Pomona 2 officially ended his bid for the title.
2007: Lowered his four-year old career best time by 36 hundredths. Earned first No. 1 qualifiers (Bristol, Dallas) since Brainerd 2004. Advanced to four semifinals, including at two of the last three races. Advanced out of the first round at five of the last eight races.
2006: Qualified for 16 of 23 events; Advanced to the quarterfinals at Englishtown and Brainerd.
2005: Set career best for speed; Advanced to one final round (St. Louis); Finished 11th in the point standings; Qualified for final 22 events
2004: Won two events for the second consecutive season; Tied career-best finish in final point standings; Established career-best for speed (323.75 mph) and elimination rounds won (23); Qualified No. 1 at Gainesville and Brainerd; Qualified No. 9 for quickest Funny Car field in NHRA history (Pomona 2)
2003: Won the prestigious Mac Tool U.S. Nationals, from the No. 15 qualifying spot; tied career-best finish in the final Funny Car standings; No. 1 qualifier at Pomona 1 and Denver; highest round-win total (19) since 1998 (20); recorded career-best performance numbers
2002: Finished 12th in the standings despite missing seven national events; Qualified for every event he entered; Advanced to the semifinals a career-high five times
2000: Competed in limited schedule while sharing duties as team owner, driver and crew chief
1999: Won first event in a tire-smoking battle with John Force (Chicago); Drove half the season for John Costanza
1998: Career-high NHRA points finish; No 1 qualifier at Indianapolis
1997: Runner-up at Indianapolis in first career final round
1996: Became the seventh Funny Car driver to break the four-second barrier
