Tim Wilkerson’s formula for success is simple.
Thus far, it has paid dividends for the Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala SS.
“My goal is to qualify right off the bat every race,” Wilkerson said by phone Wednesday. “If we do that, we’re going to go some rounds. That’s just all there is to it, because we’ve got a good car. And sometimes we’re going to have a St. Louis weekend and sometimes we’re going to have an Atlanta weekend where we get beat. But I think we’re increasing our chances of winning rounds by just being a fast car period and that’s one thing we’ve been trying to do.”
Wilkerson’s mentality has proven true as only five cars have qualified for every race on the schedule.
“With that said, I think that’s a pretty important goal,” he said. “The first thing we do is try to analyze the track then qualify. You qualify, then you try to win some rounds and try and make it as simple as you can without getting too carried away.”
By all means, simple has equalled success.
The 26-year veteran returns to Thunder Valley a top the NHRA POWERade Series Pro Stock points standings with perhaps the best start to a season in his racing career.
In seven events, the Illinois-native has two wins (Madison (Ill.), Las Vegas) and has delivered four number one qualifying posts.
Aside from sitting on top of the Pro Stock world, Wilkerson is tops in U.S. Smokeless Showdown points and his team is tops in the Full Throttle Pit Crew challenge.
Consistency has been a key for the team heading into this weekend’s O’Reilly Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol.
“Everything thus far this year has really come along well,” Wilkerson said. “The car’s ran well and not given us a lot of problems mechanically. With all of that, it gives me an opportunity to try and get as fast as we can and get the most out of each individual lap that way.
“We’re pretty fortunate that the thing’s running the way it is. We’re showing some signs of being consistent all the time and that’s what keeps you winning rounds, I think. You don’t necessarily have to be the fastest guy, but you need to be there. We’ve been lucky racing people too if you look at it. We’ve had a good car, but we’ve had some good draws.”
Wilkerson learned racing against the likes of Frank Manzo in the Top Alcohol division that sticking to what he does best and not being radical pays off more often than not.
“For years I watched people race John Force and they always made mistakes against him,” he said. “I think that I learned something from that back in the alcohol days. I remember racing Frank Manzo and he was four or five hundredths ahead of us and the crew said, ‘ let’s do this’ or ‘let’s do that.’ I said, ‘If we could go that fast, we’d already done it.’
“‘We’re going to do what we know how to do and if Frank beats us, he beats us.’ I think we beat him that day and that’s the way I race my Nitro Car. I try to do the best I can do and hopefully I can be good enough on the starting line to make a difference and if I’m not, we’ll go home and try to make a difference the next week.
“I just go out there and do the same thing every weekend and if we get to Indy and we’re in the top ten that’s good,” he said. “If we’re not, we obviously didn’t do the best we could do.”
Wilkerson looks to continue his success this weekend at Bristol. If the past is any indication, the LRS Chevy will do just that.
Wilkerson has regularly qualified in the top half at Bristol, including posting the top spot a year ago.
“It’s a terrific area first off. It’s really green this time of year and usually the weather is really nice,” he said. “Last year it was sticky and hot. I looked at the weather and it looks like the weather’s going to be pretty good. If it is, I think you’ll see some pretty spectacular times on Sunday’s cars.
“Hopefully our Levi, Ray and Shoup Chevrolet is one of them. I just love coming to the area. The fans are always very respectful and very glad to see you. That’s always a good thing.”
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