Dan Wilkerson to Make 2011 NHRA Debut at Bristol

(Daniel Wilkerson, son of NHRA Full Throttle Series veteran Tim Wilkerson, will jump into the cockpit of a fuel flopper at Thunder Valley. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

Dan Wilkerson, son of NHRA star Tim Wilkerson, will return to the NHRA Full Throttle tour, making his first 2011 appearance at the Ford NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol, with primary sponsorship backing from Summit Racing Equipment. Wilkerson will also compete the following week, in his Summit Racing Ford Mustang, at the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk.

It's been a busy year for "D Wilk" since last season in Joliet, when he made his previous appearance on the Full Throttle tour. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois - Springfield, landed a job with an accounting and tax preparation firm, and has kept a toe in the drag racing waters by bracket racing at his "home track" MidState Dragway in Havana, Ill. This past weekend, D Wilk entered and won a bracket race, driving in the Super Pro class. He won six rounds of racing to take the trophy, running elapsed times in the 5.23-second range on the 1/8-mile track.

"I just want to thank Summit Racing Equipment for having some faith in me and allowing me to get back out there in the Funny Car," Wilkerson said. "I went to the Atlanta and Topeka races, to help out with my dad's team and soak up some of his knowledge in the tuning room, and I can't wait to get to Bristol to strap into my Funny Car again. My brother Kevin and I went over to Havana to have some fun this past weekend, and we did pretty well. I won in my class, and he was runner-up in the Street class, racing on his motorcycle. That was a good time, but all I can think about is getting back in the Funny Car.

"Our goal in Bristol and Norwalk is to be competitive, make the show, represent Summit Racing Equipment as best as we can, and be an asset for my dad, rather than any kind of burden. We can double the data for him, and hopefully continue to run as well as we have over the last two years. Right now, we're all set to go and the only thing holding me back is the calendar. I wish next week would get here now."

The Bristol event will be D Wilk's fourth foray into Nitro Funny Car racing on the NHRA tour, and he has qualified solidly at each of his prior three races, earning the No. 8 spot at Topeka and Memphis in 2009, and the No. 10 spot in Chicago last season. His '09 Memphis start was marred by a major crash in the first round, when the rear wheels came of his Ford Shelby Mustang car and it slammed into the retaining wall at a high rate of speed. He was unhurt in the spectacular crash.

Jim Greenleaf, Motorsports and Events Manager for Summit Racing Equipment, is equally excited to get D Wilk back on the track, and like many others he sees a bright future ahead for the second-generation racer.

"Dan is a great young man, and a terrific Funny Car driver," Greenleaf said. "He's polished beyond his years, and really a natural in the car. He obviously gets a lot of that from his dad, and we've been honored to be associated with Tim for many years. For Summit Racing Equipment, this is a natural extension of our relationship with Team Wilkerson, and we know Dan will represent us well.

"It's also pretty obvious that Dan has a very bright future in the sport, and we're thrilled to partner with him, his dad, and the entire Team Wilkerson organization in Bristol and Norwalk. It would be a huge story if Dan were to go rounds and do some big things in the Summit Racing Ford, but it wouldn't surprise us one bit. He's just a success story waiting to happen."

D Wilk hopes to enter additional races later in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle season, although specific events and details have not yet been determined.

"I'd love to race the full schedule, believe me," Wilkerson said. "We've been out a few times in the past, doing it basically out of my dad's pocket with a little bit of help here and there, but we know the best way to get me on the track is to do it with marketing partners, so that we can run the car like we want to run it. My number-one goal is to be a full-time driver on the tour, and I'm not going to take my eye off that target. In the meantime, it's important to get out there and stay up-to-speed in the car, and Summit Racing Equipment is helping us do that. We'll make the most of it, and hopefully the people at Summit Racing will be happy with how we raced."

Once the calendar cooperates and works in his favor, Dan Wilkerson will be set to begin qualifying at beautiful Bristol Dragway on Friday, June 17, in his Summit Racing Equipment Shelby Mustang.

NASCAR Got It Right...Sorta

(Carl Edwards waves to the crowd during driver introductions at Nashville Superspeedway in 2009. Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

"Have at it, boys."

That was NASCAR's directive to its racers prior to the season in response to fans and critics saying the racing had become boring and its drivers too "vanilla." Instead of NASCAR stepping in to constantly fine and punish the drivers for every on-track incident, the racers were asked to police themselves, harkening back to the old days when the drivers either took care of slights, real or imagined, either on the track or behind the garage.

One of the drivers responsible for this new way of thinking was involved in the first real example of NASCAR's new unofficial policy. Brad Keselowski is one of the more exciting drivers in the sport right now and is providing double the thrills, racing in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series fulltime. His rivalry with Denny Hamlin last season brought back the days of Richard Petty vs. Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt vs. Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip vs. well, everyone.

Last year at Phoenix International Raceway, Keselowski was involved with an on-track incident with Hamlin during the NNS race there. Following the race, Hamlin called his shot, saying he would get even the next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. And he did. And NASCAR stood by and let it happen, much to the satisfaction of fans, media, and the other drivers.

This past weekend in the Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Carl Edwards felt he was taken out by Keselowski and near the end of the race, more than 150 laps down, "Cousin" Carl exacted his revenge. Keselowski was looking at a top-five; instead, he ended up looking at the track upside down as his No. 12 Dodge flipped as a result of Edwards tapping him.

Speculation was immediate that Edwards would be suspended for this weekend's race in Bristol. At the very least, he would be fined and docked points. None of those things happened. NASCAR put Edwards on a three-race probation. This was the right move for a couple reasons. The sanction would have a hard time telling them "have at it" and then the first time the drivers did what was suggested, levying a heavy fine. Fans and media still remember when NASCAR CEO Brian France said a few years ago that he wanted drivers to be more vocal. Within a few months, two-time champion Tony Stewart was called on the carpet for comparing NASCAR to WWE, suggesting some aspects of the races were scripted.

Another implied message may have been to Keselowski directly, basically saying when you make your bed, you have to lie in it. When a driver, regardless of how good he may be, continues to race aggressively and wreck other drivers, he pretty much has it coming if another driver decides he's had enough.

NASCAR has, however, put themselves in a unenviable position as many knew they would with this new attitude. Whoever got the first free pass, as Edwards seemingly has, would be the target of drivers, fans, and media. Twitter has become the voice of several drivers and teams and it was alive with support and condemnation of NASCAR's decision today. For example:

DeLana Harvick (Wife of Kevin Harvick and co-owner of Kevin Harvick Inc.) "my head is spinning. i can't understand what a 3-race probation actually does. maybe @kevinharvick should aw shucks more"

Scott Speed: "Yo go #nascar!!! 3 race probation for Edwards! Awsome I love it!!! I bet Keslowski is scared now lol"

Michael Waltrip: "Good call #nascar. You can't ask the driver to take their gloves off one week and then tell em to put em back on the next."

Kasey Kahne (responding to ESPN's Marty Smith): "doesn't sound like favorites to me. Airborne is biggest and only issue. I like Helton's call."

At the end of the day, the thing to remember in all this is that the fans have been asking for NASCAR to be less strict for years. Much of the fan reaction (seemingly split down the middle) would be much different if the drivers in this drama were different. If it were Dale Earnhardt Jr. being flipped by Kyle Busch, the attitude would be markedly to the contrary by most of the fans. NASCAR did walk a fine line, however, because of Keselowski's car going airborne. Had Carl simply spun Brad, there would be much discussion, but since there were safety issues involved, there was more thought and investigation put into the situation and rightly so.

I don't think for a second Edwards meant for the 12 to take to the air and Carl's most hardcore detractors would have to admit the same. However, when looking into these types of situations, it's not always intent that needs to be looked at, but the result. Regardless of how popular a decision may or may not be, safety has to be the priority. In this instance, I think NASCAR made the right call, but it has set a precedent that may come back to haunt them later this season.

By the way, anyone need to be reminded that Bristol is the next venue? And that both Keselowski and Edwards are racing in both the Nationwide and Cup Series race there? I'm sure the folks at BMS are enjoying the boost in ticket sales right about now.