Daniel Wilkerson, driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car, is ready to tackle the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway this weekend, confident that his team’s potential is on the verge of shining through.
Wilkerson and the SCAG Ford Mustang team are tied for ninth in the Funny Car points standings after a runner-up finish, the second of his career, at the NHRA Winternationals in March that was followed up by a quarterfinal appearance at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals. Wilkerson had his best qualifying effort at the Charlotte Four-Wide event, starting race day from the No. 3 spot. He is currently looking to break a three-race first-round loss streak, but despite recent results not fully reflecting their capabilities, Wilkerson and his crew, led by his father and veteran racer, Tim Wilkerson, are optimistic about their performance heading into Bristol.
“We have a better car than the paper shows. We have made strong runs in qualifying in cool conditions and top-three laps in hot conditions. I know it, Tim knows it, our whole team knows it, this thing will come around soon,” Wilkerson said. “Tim has never won at Bristol, so checking this race off his and mom’s list would be a great way to turn this thing around.”
In 2024, Wilkerson qualified 10th for the Thunder Valley Nationals and had a first-round loss to legend and 16-time champion John Force. This year, with a strong setup and a determined mindset, the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team is ready to capitalize at Bristol Dragway as Wilkerson aims to deliver a standout performance and secure a long-awaited victory.
The Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals kicks off with four sessions of qualifying Friday at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m., followed by eliminations on Sunday at noon. Fans can catch the action on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET and live all weekend on the NHRA.tv streaming platform.
This story was originally published on June 5, 2025. 
