Funny Car racer Tim Wilkerson won the $25,000 Motel 6 Who Got the Light? Award for the 2007 season with his .0013-second margin of victory over Tony Pedregon during the second round of Funny Car eliminations at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals, Oct. 7 at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond, Va. Wilkerson and Gary Scelzi tied for recording the overall narrowest margin of victory for the season, both with a .0013-second MOV. Wilkerson’s victory for the season-long title was determined via tie-breaker, which awards the title to the driver with the lowest average MOV for all elimination rounds during the 2007 season.  Wilkerson, from Springfield, Ill., who drives the Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala, is the second Funny Car driver to win the season award. Cruz Pedregon claimed it in 2005. All other season winners have come from Pro Stock, including Richie Stevens, Steve Johns, Scott Geoffrion, Larry Morgan and Jim Yates.   

Funny Car racer Tim Wilkerson won the $25,000 Motel 6 Who Got the Light? Award for the 2007 season with his .0013-second margin of victory over Tony Pedregon during the second round of Funny Car eliminations at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals, Oct. 7 at Virginia Motorsports Park near Richmond, Va. Wilkerson and Gary Scelzi tied for recording the overall narrowest margin of victory for the season, both with a .0013-second MOV. Wilkerson’s victory for the season-long title was determined via tie-breaker, which awards the title to the driver with the lowest average MOV for all elimination rounds during the 2007 season.  Wilkerson, from Springfield, Ill., who drives the Levi Ray & Shoup Chevy Impala, is the second Funny Car driver to win the season award. Cruz Pedregon claimed it in 2005. All other season winners have come from Pro Stock, including Richie Stevens, Steve Johns, Scott Geoffrion, Larry Morgan and Jim Yates.   

 

The following lists winners of the 2007 Motel 6 ‘Who Got the Light’ margin of victory program. Motel 6 awards $1,000 to the individual Top Fuel, Funny Car or Pro Stock driver who earns a round win in eliminations by the narrowest margin at each NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event in 2007. The competitor with the overall narrowest margin of victory for the season will earn $25,000 from Motel 6 at the conclusion of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

 

CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, Calif. – Greg Stanfield ($1,000) defeated Kurt Johnson by a .0025-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals presented by Castrol, Chandler, Ariz. – Mike Edwards ($1,000) defeated Greg Stanfield by a .0031-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals, Gainesville, Fla. – Larry Morgan ($1,000) defeated Dave Connolly by a .0024-second margin of victory in the second round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

O’Reilly NHRA Spring Nationals presented by Pennzoil, Baytown, Texas – Jason Line ($1,000) defeated Allen Johnson by a .0063-second margin of victory in the final round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas – Ron Capps ($1,000) defeated Kenny Bernstein by a .0032-second margin of victory in the second round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, Commerce, Ga. – Erica Enders ($1,000) defeated Jason Line by a .0036-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals, Madison, Ill. – Jeg Coughlin ($1,000) defeated Greg Anderson by a a .0065-second margin of victory in the semifinal round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

O’Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals, Topeka, Kan. – Jeg Coughlin ($1,000) defeated Vieri Gaines by a .0016-second margin of victory in the second round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Joliet, Ill. – Jeg Coughlin ($1,000) defeated Mike Edwards by a .0034-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

ProCare Rx NHRA SuperNationals presented by R2B2 Motors, Englishtown, N.J. – Greg Anderson ($1,000) defeated Craig Hankinson by a .0092-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio – Dave Connolly ($1,000) defeated Greg Stanfield by a .0121-second margin of victory in the quarterfinal round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn. – John Force ($1,000) defeated Mike Ashley by a .0021-second margin of victory in the quarterfinal round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals, Denver – Kenny Koretsky ($1,000) defeated Max Naylor by a .0077-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

Schuck’s Auto Supply NHRA Nationals, Seattle – Mike Ashley ($1,000) defeated Gary Scelzi by .a 0035-second margin of victory in the quarterfinal round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals – Robert Hight ($1,000) defeated Tony Bartone by .a 0034-second margin of victory in the quarterfinal round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals – John Force ($1,000) defeated Kenny Bernstein by .a 0048-second margin of victory in the final round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals – Dave Connolly ($1,000) defeated Greg Anderson by a .0028-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

Mac Tools U.S. Nationals – Cory McClenathan ($1,000) defeated Morgan Lucas by a .0056-second margin of victory in the first round of Top Fuel eliminations.

 

O’Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals – Gary Scelzi ($1,000) defeated Jack Beckman by a .0013-second margin of victory in the final round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

O’Reilly NHRA Fall Nationals – Clay Millican ($1,000) defeated Brandon Bernstein by a .0203-second margin of victory in the second round of Top Fuel eliminations.

 

* Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals – Tim Wilkerson ($1,000) defeated Tony Pedregon by a .0013-second margin of victory in the quarterfinal round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals – Vieri Gaines ($1,000) defeated Jason Line by a .0036-second margin of victory in the first round of Pro Stock eliminations.

 

Auto Club NHRA Finals – Mike Ashley ($1,000) defeated Jack Beckman by a .0020-second margin of victory in the quarterfinal round of Funny Car eliminations.

 

* - Denotes season winner. Won $25,000 season award via tie-breaker with Gary Scelzi’s .0013-second MOV victory over Jack Beckman at Memphis, Tenn. Tie-breaker determined by driver with lowest average MOV for all elimination rounds during the 2007 season.

 

Motel 6 ‘Who Got the Light’ $25,000 Season Winners

2007     Tim Wilkerson, Chevy Impala, Funny Car, .0013

2006     Richie Stevens Jr., Dodge Stratus, Pro Stock, .0003

2005     Cruz Pedregon, Chevy Monte Carlo, Funny Car, .0010

2004     Steve Johns, Chevy Cavalier, Pro Stock, .0006

2003     Scott Geoffrion, Ford Escort, Pro Stock, .0002

2002     Larry Morgan, Dodge Neon, Pro Stock, .0002

2001     Jim Yates, Pontiac Grand Am, Pro Stock, .0000