Austin Prock: 'I felt pretty confident going that we were going to have the car to beat'
Paul Lee: 'It’s going to be great just to see our friends and the fans'
Jack Beckman: 'I don’t know if anyone wants to get back more than me'
Tim Wilkerson: 'I don’t think they’re ready for my attitude. It’s gonna be fun'
Kenny Delco: 'We were fast, we qualified fourth at Pomona and Phoenix'
Steve Torrence: 'You’ve got to come out and swing for every one of ’em'
Cristian Cuadra: 'I think I’m doing well, but I have a lot of room to improve'
Tommy Johnson Jr.: 'I’ve not wanted to win a championship more than this year'
Brittany Force: 'We’re ready for all this to be over so we get back to what we love'
Robert Hight: 'I can’t wait to get back and try to defend our championship'
Alex Laughlin: 'All we have to do is shove the car back in the trailer, and we are ready to go racing'
Shawn Langdon: 'I’m trying to stay as fresh as I can so we can be ready to go'
Chris McGaha: 'We’ve come up with some new ideas and we’ve beaten on some things'
J.R. Todd: 'I have all the confidence that we will be in contention when it counts'
Clay Millican: 'I can’t wait to stomp on that loud pedal ... it’s been way too long'
Bob Tasca III: 'Trust me, this Motorcraft car is going to have its day in the sun'
Antron Brown: 'I’ve been doing everything I can; I’m gonna come back hungry and ready'
Jason Line: 'It doesn’t matter what track we start with, the cars will all be ready to go when we get the call'
Fernando Cuadra Jr: 'We’re applying many of the things we learned from the first two races'
John Force: 'I’ll be ready. I know the car. I could drive it with my eyes closed'
Rahn Tobler maps out plans and goals for the NAPA Auto Parts Funny Car team
Leah Pruett: 'This is not the time to test or play; it’s time to run with what we know'
Ron Capps: 'It’s going to feel crazy the first time any of us steps on the gas for the first time'
Doug Kalitta: 'We’re all just really hungry and ready to make it happen'
Bo Butner: 'I feel like when we all come back racing we’ll be stronger than ever!'
Jeg Coughlin Jr: 'It’s time to go. Every round will be as important as the last'
Matt Hartford: 'We have a car that can run for the championship—bar none'
Alexis DeJoria: 'I just hope that everybody makes it back to the track safely'
Justin Ashley: 'Having a break like this really puts things in perspective'
Erica Enders: 'Our great start proves the organization’s hard work is paying off'
Tim Wilkerson: 'I don’t think they’re ready for my attitude. It’s gonna be fun'
TIM WILKERSON | Levi, Ray and Shoup Shelby
Current points position: 6th | Best season e.t. to date: 3.879
Early-season report card: Wilk won a round at each of the season’s first two races, qualifying ninth in Pomona with a 3.918 and then beating former world champ J.R. Todd in round one with a season-best 3.879 before smoking the tires against Matt Hagan in round two. After qualifying No. 7 in Phoenix with a 3.889 he ran 3.879 to beat Alexis DeJoria in round one then red-lighted away a 3.88 to John Force in round two.
Looking back: “I was pretty happy with the first two races; I mean, we’re no Jack Beckman but we’ve got a good car. We started the year with some different parts that I was still trying to learn and so I’m kind of sneaking up on it, but I’m pretty happy with it really. We were hoping to be lower in the .80s. On that red-light, I don’t know if it was something I did something funky or what, but I timed it out with my video and it should have been right on top of a perfect light, so it very well could have been a red-light.”
Looking ahead: “The red-light run was a good run and would have beaten everyone but Tommy Johnson that round so I’m pretty optimistic. We’re just trying to learn how to run the thing without tearing it up; my goal this year is to be more consistent and not smoke the tires.”
Shop talk: With sponsor Levi, Ray, and Shoup’s 50th-anniversary celebration ending in July before the return to racing, Wilkerson will replace that popular scheme with a new one that he’s pretty excited about. “It’s bitchen,” he enthused. “Wait ‘til you see it. It’s really cool.”
The final word: “I haven’t gone this far in my life without racing for this many days; I might not even know how to start it let alone tune it, but I hope so. I’m not worried about the driving; it’ll be just like falling off my bicycle. This new schedule will separate the men from the boys and girls. I’m excited about it. I’m pretty pumped if you wanna know the truth. I don’t think they’re ready for my attitude. It’s gonna be fun. We’re going to wear them out if we do 15 or 16 in a row, guaranteed. We’re getting all of our junk in a pile right now; I’ve got every motor and every cylinder head I own; we’re gonna be ready.”