Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team are looking to rebound at this weekend’s Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway, the first of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship.
In his rookie year, Wilkerson and the SCAG Ford team finished the regular season with one runner-up finish at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals where he also ran his career best elapsed time (3.885 seconds) and two semifinal appearances. Wilkerson also ran his career best speed (334.82 mph) at the Sonoma Nationals. After a series of mechanical issues and engine retaliation at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Wilkerson and his team, led by his father Tim, will start the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, from the No. 8 position, just 31 points outside the top five.
“Reading is going to be a very important comeback race for this SCAG Summit team. A strong performance at the first race of the Countdown is a great way to boost morale and set yourself up for a good finish at the finals in Pomona, Calif.,” Wilkerson said. “Last year with Chad Green’s team I was able to runner up on Monday, I hope the same for them this year and maybe we can put the SCAG Wilkerson Funny Car in the winners circle.”
As crew chief for Chad Green’s Funny Car team in 2023, Wilkerson led them to a No. 5 qualifying position before finishing second to three-time world champion Robert Hight on Monday due to a rain delay. En route to the finals, Wilkerson and Green defeated Tim in the second round. Wilkerson will look to get the job done at Maple Grove Raceway for his first victory as a Funny Car driver.
Competition at the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway begins with qualifying on Friday at 3:30 and 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated to begin Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will start with two qualifying shows Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET both on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations coverage will begin Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET with a second show at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX).
This story was originally published on September 13, 2024. 
