ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 10, 2024) – Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team enter this weekend’s Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, race four of six in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, looking to chip away at their goal of a top five finish.
Wilkerson started NHRA’s six race playoffs, with a first-round loss at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania that put him 10th in points but back-to-back quarterfinal finishes at the Carolina Nationals just outside of Charlotte and his hometown Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis has Wilkerson and the SCAG Mustang team sitting eight in points, just 87 points back from the top five.
“We’ve had a really good race car recently, the SCAG Mustang is responding and it’s a good feeling after struggling for a bit there,” Wilkerson said. “This team has worked so hard and its starting to payoff, you can see it on the racetrack.”
Wilkerson has some experience down racing down Texas Motorplex in 2017 raced at the Texas Motorplex in 2017 and crew chiefed Chad Green to a No. 7 qualifying position and first round exit in 2023. Wilkerson’s crew chief, his dad Tim whom he took over driving duties from at the beginning of the year, has his own success at the facility with a win in 2008 and No. 1 qualifying position in 2007 and 2010.
The Texas Motorplex offers a unique experience for race fans. The Stampede of Speed is a week-long festival style event with concerts, fan experiences and plenty of drag racing culminating with the Texas NHRA FallNationals that starts with Friday night racing and a chance at a cash prize for being quickest of the day and ends with the event champions wearing custom cowboy hats.
“It is always exciting to race at a place that cares about drag racing as much as the Meyer family does,” Wilkerson said. “From the week of great racing before we arrive to the FanFest on Thursday to the bonus cash Friday night, they put their passion for my favorite sport on full display. I can’t wait to hopefully wear the cowboy hat all the way home.”
Competition for the Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex, race four of six in the Countdown to the Championship, begins with four rounds of qualifying scheduled for Friday at 5:15 and 8:00 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at noon. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a qualifying show Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET and an eliminations show at 4:00 p.m. ET.
