Wed, 24 Sep 2014, 23:00 PM Funny Car Driver Tim Wilkerson Heading on Right Path Leading

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Into AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals

MADISON, Ill. --

Tim Wilkerson

It took a strong performance in a pressure moment just for Tim Wilkerson to compete in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The Funny Car veteran has since responded with strong performances at the first two Countdown races, keeping him in championship contention in a Funny Car class that has only tightened over the first two playoff races.

But Wilkerson also knows he will need to make another major move in his 10,000-horsepowr Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang to muscle through the list of title challengers and that includes racking up the wins in the loaded class.

His next chance to do so comes this weekend at the third annual AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park, where a breakout performance could put him right in the middle of the championship conversation.

"Considering we needed another rally just to make it in at the tenth spot, I have no complaints," Wilkerson said. "Two races in and we've won three rounds. What I think is interesting is that instead of the guys at the top pulling away, the whole thing seems to be compressing. We're ninth, but we're within one good race of being right in the hunt. I'm not satisfied, but I'm happy with how we're doing."

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Erica Enders-Stevens (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year's winners of the event that will once again be televised nationally on ESPN2. The AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals also marks the halfway point of the six-race Countdown to the Championship and is the third of four straight race weekends.

Wilkerson may be ninth and 135 points behind leader and reigning Funny Car world champion John Force, but he sits just 41 points outside of fifth after advancing to the semifinals this past weekend in Dallas. Taking it a step further would put Wilkerson, who advanced to a final round at Bristol this weekend, in range of Force heading into the final three events. But also don't expect Wilkerson to change his approach.

"I try not to do anything different no matter what's going on," said Wilkerson, who has finished in the top 10 in Funny Car for the past six seasons. "Every time I go against that, I seem to mess up."

Wilkerson also isn't afraid to admit what the St. Louis event means for him and his team. Gateway Motorsports Park is just 100 miles away from Wilkerson's hometown of Springfield, Ill., which makes it a special event.

"To be honest, the St. Louis race is such a huge event for us in terms of Levi, Ray & Shoup guests, Springfield fans, and family and friends, and that's what sets it apart for us and for me," Wilkerson said. "We try to take on every race at the same intensity level, and if you really want to analyze that you could make the case that every person on the team has a different 'game face' and they approach each lap with their own personal mentality."

"But we have so many people in attendance at Gateway that it makes for an overall intense weekend. After the race, when we decompress, I'll be able to look at how we did and have a better idea of what that means in terms of the Countdown playoffs."

Gateway Motorsports Park also remains a favorite for Wilkerson, who has 17 career Funny Car victories, in part because of the atmosphere a passionate fanbase has created.

It would mark the ideal setting for Wilkerson to pick up his first Funny Car win since 2011, but he will also have to do it against an ultra-talented field that includes Countdown competitors Force, Ron Capps, who has three St. Louis wins, Robert Hight, Courtney Force, who won the most recent event in Dallas, Matt Hagan, who won the first race in the Countdown, Alexis DeJoria, Tommy Johnson Jr., Cruz Pedregon and Del Worsham.

"I think the fans were always pretty great in St. Louis," Wilkerson said. "The ownership and management group that's in place there is fantastic and they're doing all they can to make it fan friendly. St. Louis, in general, is just a great sports town and you can see that in the pits at Gateway. If it's sports, and it's a big event, St. Louis fans turn out."

After winning the first two events of the Countdown, Tony Schumacher has taken command of the Top Fuel class in impressive fashion and currently holds the points lead. Other championship contenders in the Countdown are reigning champion Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, who has won the past two years in St. Louis, Doug Kalitta, who was the points leader heading into the Countdown, Spencer Massey, Khalid alBalooshi, Steve Torrence, J.R. Todd, rookie Richie Crampton and Brittany Force.

Enders-Stevens returns to Gateway Motorsports Park as one of the top contenders for the Pro Stock championship. Enders-Stevens, the two-time defending race winner, has four wins on the season but is chasing points leader Jason Line. Reigning champ Jeg Coughlin leads a list of championship hopefuls in Pro Stock and also features Allen Johnson, Dave Connolly, who earned the win last weekend in Dallas, Vincent Nobile, Chris McGaha, Shane Gray, Jonathan Gray, who won his first professional race to start the Countdown, and V Gaines.

Smith was victorious in Pro Stock Motorcycle last season en route to his second world championship. Smith is after his first win in 2014 while chasing the two-bike team of points leader and Dallas winner Andrew Hines and Eddie Krawiec, who is in second after winning the Countdown opener. Hector Arana Jr., Hector Arana, Steve Johnson, Michael Ray, John Hall, Angie Smith and Scotty Pollacheck are all also in the title hunt in the two-wheel category. Also returning to competition in the bike category will be three-time world champ Angelle Sampey, who will be riding the Star Racing Buell owned by George Bryce.

As always, fans will have the opportunity to interact with their favorite drivers as they're granted an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. This unique opportunity in motorsports gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly-skilled mechanics service their hot rods between rounds, and enjoy some cherished face time and get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers.

Fans also will want to visit NHRA's popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create a carnival atmosphere, with interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying begins Friday, Sept. 26, with sessions at 2:15 and 4:45 p.m. The final two qualifying sessions will take place Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1:15 and 3:45 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call Gateway Motorsports Park at (855) RACE-TIK (722-3845) or visit www.gatewaymsp.com.

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