Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang enter this weekend’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway looking to start their sophomore season off with a first win for the second-generation driver.
Wilkerson, who raced sporadically for 14 years before taking over driving duties from his now crew chief father at the beginning of the 2024 season, ended his rookie year with a runner-up finish and three semifinal appearances to take seventh in the championship points standings.
Coming into 2025, SCAG Mustang team took full advantage of the test session and SCAG PRO Superstar Shootout specialty event at Bradenton Motorsports Park in February. Running in their back-up car after parachutes didn’t deploy during a test run, Daniel laid down his unofficial career best elapsed time at 3.860- seconds before being matched up with eventual race winner Ron Capps in the first round.
“Our whole team is chomping at the bit to get to Gainesville and continue where we left off at Bradenton,” Wilkerson said. “We made some career best runs for me there and I truly believe that with the right conditions we can re-write the career best for our whole team. Gainesville Raceway would also be an awesome place to get my first win in front of the massive crowd that shows up there.”
In 2024, Wilkerson qualified 13th at the Gatornationals before having a first-round exit to Matt Hagan on race day.
The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals weekend starts with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 2 and 4:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a qualifying show Saturday at 8 p.m. ET and eliminations Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
This story was originally published on March 6, 2025. 
