Tim Wilkerson just has to make a short trip from his hometown of Springfield, IL, up to Joliet for this weekend’s NHRA Route 66 Nationals. Wilkerson’s first win in a Funny Car came at the track in 1999, when he defeated John Force.

The owner and driver of the Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Mustang Funny Car also is tuner, which presents extra challenges for the independent campaigner. Wilkerson was one of just two single-car FC teams to finish in the top 10 last season. But the NHRA has changed to less track prep this season, challenging tuners and drivers to react to differing conditions at each track. Already this year the mega-teams are not dominating as they have in the past, giving the smaller teams more of a chance to win.

“NHRA has been prepping the track differently this year,” Wilkerson said, “and hopefully we can figure out how to make our car run well with it there.”  (Ron Lewis photo)   [06/01/18]

The JEGS Allstars event will take place Saturday, June 2, during the Route 66 Nationals. The $124,000 race within a race will pit the top points earners from NHRA’s seven geographic divisions and four Top Alcohol regions against each other in the culmination of a yearlong points battle.

The defending JEGS Allstars winners are Joey Severance (Top Alcohol Dragster), Andy Bohl (Top Alcohol Funny Car), Brian Browell (Comp), James Antonette Jr. (Super Stock), Andrew Hill (Stock), Nick Folk (Super Comp), Ken Mostowich (Super Gas), Josh Dalrymple (Super Street), Steve Furr (Top Dragster), and Mark McDonald (Top Sportsman).   [06/01/18]

Pro Extreme Low Qualifier sponsor Quick Drive has stepped up again to award outstanding performance. Quick Drive seeks to recognize car and driver performance that doesn’t always show up through top qualifying positions or win lights, so they developed the Quickest Extreme Doorslammer Award.

Beginning at this weekend’s PDRA Summer Drags at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI, the quickest doorslammer pass will be recognized, regardless of whether the pass happens during qualifying or eliminations. Each event will give an opportunity for a new leader and a new best time. At the end of the year the driver who has posted the quickest pass throughout the season will be awarded a custom Quick Drive trophy, created in-house at the Quick Drive headquarters in Parker, Colorado.

The elapsed time does not have to be backed up in order to be recognized. The Quick Drive Quickest Extreme Doorslammer Award is separate from the national ET records.    [06/01/18]

Enter by July 16 to win a 376 cubic-inch (6.2L) LSX Series Gen IV Small-Block V-8 worth $12,000. It's equipped with the following products from the Holley family of brands: Holley Premium Mid-Mount Accessory System, Holley Single Plane EFI Intake Manifold, Hooker LS Turbo Exhaust Manifolds, Tall LS Valve Covers, Holley TB Intake Elbow, MSD Black SC Wire Set, MSD Pro Power Coils, Trussed LS Valley Cover, and more.

Click here to enter for your chance to win.   [06/01/18]

Results of the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Donnie Eatherly from P&E Distributors Inc., Dan Kahn from Kahn Media Inc., Brian Lounsberry from Motovicity Distribution, Dr. Jamie Meyer from General Motors and Steve Whipple from Edelbrock LLC elected to serve on the Board.

The 2018-19 SEMA Board of Directors:

Chairman of the Board: Wade Kawasaki, Coker Group

Chairman-Elect: Tim Martin, K&N Engineering Inc.

Immediate-Past Chairman and Secretary: Doug Evans, Crower Cams & Equipment Co. Inc.

Treasurer: Peter Lehman, Granite Creek Capital Partners LLC

Board Members: Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts; Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group; Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors Inc.; Kyle Fickler, Aeromotive Inc.; Dan Kahn, Kahn Media Inc.; James Lawrence, Power Automedia; Brian Lounsberry, Motovicity Distribution; Dr. Jamie Meyer, General Motors; Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales and Steve Whipple, Edelbrock LLC [06/01/18]