Rising Funny Car star Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team are primed to make their mark at the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park.
In 2024, his first full season behind the wheel of the SCAG Ford Mustang, Wilkerson had a quarterfinal finish at the Arizona Nationals coming up short to eventual race winner and now reigning world champion Austin Prock. Now, with a year of experience under his belt and the guidance of his father, veteran driver and tuner Tim Wilkerson, as crew chief, Daniel is eager to chase his first career Funny Car victory this weekend at Firebird Motorsports Park.
“One of the hardest parts of drag racing is that you lose a lot more than you win. Having said that we are champions of putting our experience good or bad behind. We race, we learn from successes and mistakes of the weekend, and we go to the next one,” Wilkerson said. “We learned a lot in Gainesville, and I can’t wait to get to Phoenix to get my first win out of the way and reward these guys for their hard work with a Wally.”
Wilkerson enters the second event of the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season sitting 10th in the points standings after qualifying fifth at the Gatornationals. He ended the weather shortened weekend with a first-round loss to Buddy Hull.
Competition at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park kicks off with four qualifying rounds Friday at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Eliminations begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
This story was originally published on March 20, 2025. 
