MAYVILLE, Wis. (Oct. 30, 2024) – Officially announced this month by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Daniel Wilkerson, driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car, is among the eight Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series competitors eligible to win the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year Award.
Wilkerson, the only Funny Car contender up for Rookie of the Year, joins Top Fuel pilots Jasmine Salinas, Tony Stewart and Ida Zetterström, Pro Stock drivers Brandon Foster, Derrick Reese and Sienna Wildgust as well as Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Richard Gadson in the 2024 rookie class. Voting is done by industry media members and ends at the season finale In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California, November 15-17.
Wilkerson raced part-time between 2009 and 2022 competing in only 14 national events, and never more than four in a single season making him eligible for the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year Award.
“As a guy that has only competed in a race or two a year for 10 years, I’ve been looking forward to the opportunity to run for Rookie of the Year for a long time. So, to get to do it with this team and my father at the helm is truly a dream come true,” Wilkerson said. “I also can’t thank all the people at Metalcraft of Mayville, SCAG Power Equipment, Ford Performance, Summit Racing Equipment enough for their support, I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Wilkerson took over driving duties of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car from his father, fan favorite Tim Wilkerson who was not only driving but tuning the hot rod and remains the crew chief for the team.
“You only get one chance at this honorable award, so it does put a bit of pressure on me. And I felt that even before I even knew the phenomenal class I was going to be running with,” said Daniel Wilkerson. “Between Tony Stewart’s star power and Richard Gadson’s stellar performance this year my fellow competitors and I have quite a hurdle to cross but hopefully a race win in our near future will help our cause.”
In his rookie year, Daniel and the SCAG Ford team finished the regular season with one runner-up finish at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals and three semifinal appearances. He also qualified as high as No. 4 and ran his career best speed of 334.82 mph at the Sonoma Nationals. Their regular season performance had the team starting the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs, from the No. 8 position.
In the first four races of the Countdown, Wilkerson has moved his way into No. 6 in points with a pair of quarterfinal finishes and, most recently, a No. 6 qualifying effort and his fifth semifinal appearance of the season at the Texas FallNationals just two weeks ago. He also ran his career best elapsed time of 3.871 seconds while competing in Texas.
With two races left until the end of the season, Wilkerson is looking for a top 5 finish and his first NHRA National event victory. The Mission Foods NHRA season continues with this weekend’s Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
