Brainerd, pre-race: This weekend’s stop on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour is the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway. Nestled in amongst tall pine trees in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes area with 465 fishing lakes, it’s a fisherman’s paradise, and Funny Car driver Tim Wilkerson is an avid fisherman. However this weekend the Springfield, Ill. native will not be trolling for walleye or northern pike. Instead, Wilkerson will be focused on catching another win with this Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevy Monte Carlo.

Going into the last third of the race season, Wilkerson and his team have a renewed vigor and enthusiasm; due to their appearance in the winner’s circle at last week’s Fram Autolite Nationals, their second win of the year. And they have an added reason for not wanting the big one to get away this year. Last year Wilkerson had a breath gasping final round appearance, losing to Gary Densham by just five thousand’s of a second.

“Historically we have some problems making power in Brainerd,” said Wilkerson, “because the altitude is so high that you have to lean on it, but that could be a good thing. Our car was weak last week in Sonoma and the track on Sunday was really tricky, and we expect Brainerd to be the same. So maybe we’ll have the ticket to go all the way.”

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