Drag Illustrated Issue 187, March / April 2024 | Page 137

DANIEL WILKERSON JUST MISSES FUNNY CAR FIELD

The PRO Superstar Shootout began as a way to turn PRO ’ s usual preseason test session into something much bigger than just a test session . Even after the test session was expanded into the PRO Superstar Shootout with qualifying , eliminations , big payouts , and all kinds of fanfare , some drivers and teams still saw it as a test session – an opportunity to prepare for the 2024 season .
The attitude changed as the week progressed and the energy surrounding the event intensified . This was more than just a test session .
One of the drivers who quickly picked up on that was Daniel Wilkerson , who was named the new driver of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang previously driven by his father , Tim Wilkerson , over the offseason . Though he ’ s an experienced Funny Car driver and crew chief , the younger Wilkerson took the opportunity to get acclimated in his new ride and prepare for his first full season as a driver . Unfortunately , he missed out on the cutthroat eight-car field by just . 026 seconds with his best of 3.929 at 327.82 .
“ I could not be more impressed with this SCAG
Power Equipment PRO Superstar Shootout ,” Wilkerson said . “ Honestly , coming here , I was excited to get some test laps in because we had some new pipe , and we had a couple things we wanted to try . What I was excited for as a test session turned out to be an event I will be super excited to come to every year as long as I ’ m allowed to come back . The people were awesome and the facility is cool . I like a good hometown facility , so this place checked a lot of boxes for me . I ’ m excited to come back and I ’ m excited we were invited .” DI
March / April 2024 DragIllustrated . com | Drag Illustrated | 137