NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The power and violence of a 330-mph Funny Car run can shake even the most seasoned veterans—but for Daniel Wilkerson, Sonoma was more than a race. It was a test of his spirit.

Behind the wheel of the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang, Wilkerson endured a string of punishing, engine-devastating runs that would rattle any driver. Despite a promising early weekend setup, Sonoma quickly turned into a war of attrition. Blown motors, fireballs, and frustration dominated the weekend for the second-year driver—and yet, it was Daniel’s response that revealed just how much he belongs in the NHRA Funny Car ranks.

“A severe lack of competence, I think,” he admitted in an emotional post-run interview with NHRA’s Bruno Massel. “I saw [Bob Tasca III] had two holes out, and I was catching him... so because I'm a dipsh*t racer I held my foot on the floor until the thing blew up in my face." 

That honesty, combined with his refusal to fold, defined the weekend. Instead of retreating, Wilkerson and his team doubled down—thanking his crew for their around-the-clock work, leaning on his father and crew chief Tim Wilkerson, and staying focused on data that showed their car had real potential.  But Sonoma reminded everyone that the road to Funny Car success is rarely smooth—and always emotional.

“Now I've done that twice, and I swore I would never do that again,” Wilkerson said, tears barely held back. “It's just super disappointing, there are so many people counting on me... We're lucking we've got Scag Power Equipment, Summit Racing Equipment and Ford behind us."

 In a class where toughness is measured in milliseconds and miles-per hour, Daniel Wilkerson’s courage in Sonoma showed something more important: resilience, humility, and the heart of a racer built for the long haul.