Tim Wilkerson never imagined an antiquated chassis could be considered a performance advantage, or that his fellow racers would consider it to be an issue.

The unlikely became likely in 2008.

In a rash of sweeping changes intended to promote better chassis safety, the NHRA's rule makers determined all Funny Cars would weigh more for 2008, to accommodate the required additional bracing in the chassis. The 100-pound addition raised the minimum weight for the floppers to 2,550 pounds.

The drivers running older chassis found themselves at an advantage which equated to stronger performances. The experience of racing with a heavier car gave them a data edge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For once, the rules worked to Tim Wilkerson's favor and he's not apologizing …

Tim Wilkerson never imagined an antiquated chassis could be considered a performance advantage, or that his fellow racers would consider it to be an issue.

The unlikely became likely in 2008.

In a rash of sweeping changes intended to promote better chassis safety, the NHRA's rule makers determined all Funny Cars would weigh more for 2008, to accommodate the required additional bracing in the chassis. The 100-pound addition raised the minimum weight for the floppers to 2,550 pounds.

The drivers running older chassis found themselves at and advantage which equated to stronger performances. The experience of racing with a heavier car gave them an data edge.

Wilkerson has heard more than his share of "sniveling" about the extra weight.

Should Wilkerson feel sorry his older, yet legal chassis proved to be an advantage? No, winning is about having the advantage, in the car, in the tuneup and in the hands, feet and mind of the driver.

"You heard a lot of sniveling about the extra weight that was put on the cars, and I've been told by a lot of crew chefs I had a real unfair advantage, because my car (was heavier). [NHRA] actually used my car as an example, believe it or not, from last year," Wilkerson said. "[NHRA] took a weight of everybody's car, what they weighed and mine, and Gary Densham's weighed the most."

Nobody should be surprised both Wilkerson and Densham qualified for the championship phase of the NHRA's Countdown to the Championship. Wilkerson was the top seed. Densham landed seventh.

"When they added that 50 to 75 pounds on these other cars over and above what they weighed last year, it really threw the crew chiefs into a tizzy," Wilkerson explained. "And so I think they have a little bit of an advantage with that, and I'll give them all that one. Towards the end of the year here, middle of the year, when we had to change chassis, I know there was a lot of talk about, well, those guys are not going to run worth a darn as soon as we do that and that's going to get them."

Wilkerson proved them all wrong. With a new chassis he could win. With the reduction to a thousand-foot he is still winning.

Determination goes a long way as Wilkerson has discovered.

"If you can give us some plywood to hold the body and some tubing you made in your backyard, we'll still be as fast as anybody else if we can get away with it."

Wilkerson never expected the advantage to last forever.

"Everybody has kind of caught up," Wilkerson said. "Didn't take them long to figure out that weight doesn't mean anything."