On the most recent episode of Brian Lohnes’ NHRA Insider Podcast, Daniel Wilkerson joined the conversation to talk about a season that has been equal parts satisfying and humbling. The NHRA Funny Car driver for SCAG Power Equipment and longtime crew chief for his father, Tim Wilkerson, has been building momentum in 2025, but a frustrating weekend in Sonoma underscored the reality that progress in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series rarely comes in a straight line. Wilkerson was candid in reflecting on the lessons from that weekend, how his team has responded, and what he believes they can still achieve before the Countdown to the Championship begins.
“We went to Sonoma and we just got beat up,” Wilkerson admitted. “We tested on Monday before that race and thought we had something, but when we got into the event, it just didn’t translate. The car was acting different, the track was different, and I didn’t do a good enough job adjusting to that.” Despite the setbacks, Wilkerson isn’t letting one rough weekend derail the optimism that’s been building around his team all year. In fact, he’s using it as fuel. “You get punched in the mouth like that, you can either sulk or you can learn. We learned. Now it’s about proving we can bounce right back.”
The 2025 campaign has already delivered moments that show Wilkerson’s capability to run with the best in Funny Car. With multiple late-round appearances and consistently competitive qualifying efforts, he’s kept his team positioned in the top half of the field more often than not. But in a class where the difference between a holeshot win and a first-round exit is measured in thousandths of a second, staying sharp and adaptable is paramount. “Every run matters,” Wilkerson said. “You can’t get complacent. If you do, someone like Bob Tasca or Matt Hagan will hand it to you quick.”
What makes Wilkerson’s dual role as driver and tuner unique is the constant balancing act between what he feels in the car and what the data is telling him. He’s one of the few in the class who can come back from a run, pull up the computer, and interpret it through the lens of both a driver and a crew chief. “I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse,” Wilkerson joked. “On one hand, I know exactly what the car did, and on the other, I can’t just blame the crew chief when it doesn’t go right – because that’s me too.”
Heading into Brainerd and then the all-important U.S. Nationals, Wilkerson is aiming to lock down a top-five position before the Countdown resets the points. It’s a tall order in a Funny Car field that’s arguably as deep as it’s ever been, but he’s not shying away from the challenge. “The Countdown is when everything gets real,” he said. “If you can start from the top five, you’ve got a legit shot at the championship. That’s where my focus is. Every qualifying run, every round win from here on out is about positioning ourselves to make that happen.”
Wilkerson also acknowledged that the level of competition this year has elevated everyone’s game. “You look up and down the ladder and there are no easy draws. You get someone like Blake Alexander or J.R. Todd in the first round, you better be ready to throw down a .90 or you’re going home.” He pointed to the rise of younger drivers and the resilience of seasoned veterans as evidence that Funny Car in 2025 is as tough as it’s ever been.
For Wilkerson, the upcoming stretch of races represents both a test and an opportunity. “Brainerd can be tricky with the conditions, and Indy is its own beast,” he said. “If we can be at our best for those two, it sets the tone for the whole Countdown. That’s what we’re working toward – being the best version of ourselves when it matters most.”
As the SCAG Power Equipment Mustang heads into the heart of the NHRA season, Wilkerson knows the only way to climb higher is to keep attacking, keep learning, and keep believing his team belongs among the elite. “I don’t care who’s in the other lane,” he said. “If we do our job, we can beat anybody out here. That’s the mindset we’re taking into every run from here to Pomona.”
This story was originally published on August 14, 2025. 
The post Daniel Wilkerson Turns Lessons Into Motivation After Sonoma Setback, Eyes Top-Five Countdown Berth first appeared on Drag Illustrated.
