BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 13, 2025) – Funny Car driver Daniel Wilkerson and his SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang team are charging into this weekend’s Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway with renewed confidence and a hunger for the winners circle.
Coming off a productive outing at Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park, Wilkerson is set to celebrate the one-year anniversary of his “Jackal” Funny Car at the iconic “Zoo” with a strong bid for his first NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series win.
“After I created about two weeks’ worth of work during the Sonoma weekend, these boys put their heads down and got this SCAG Power Equipment Mustang ready in just two days for Night Under Fire at Summit Motorsports Park,” said Wilkerson referencing his two engine explosions at the Sonoma Nationals and the specialty Night Under Fire event he participated in the following weekend. “As usual it was an epic show plus we made a few much-needed runs before heading to Brainerd International Raceway.
“This event is the one-year anniversary of the unveiling of our Jackal Funny Car livery so I think this would be a fine place to put her in the winner’s circle,” continued Wilkerson who last year qualified 12th and had a quarterfinal exit to multi-time champion Matt Hagan.
Wilkerson, a rising star in the Funny Car ranks, has shown consistent improvement in his sophomore season. Currently seventh in points, Wilkerson has a runner-up finish and two semifinal finishes to go along with two back-to-back wins in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge.
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, the 13th of 20 events on the 2025 schedule, marks a critical point in the regular season as teams prepare for the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Fans and racers alike can also look forward to the American Rebel Light Friday Night “Battle for the Rebel Axe,” where Wilkerson will compete for a $4,000 bonus and a unique trophy as the top Funny Car qualifier.
The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway start with four qualifying sessions Friday at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. with eliminations slated for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Television coverage of the event will begin with qualifying shows Friday at 10 p.m. ET and Saturday at 7 p.m. ET FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Eliminations will air Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX).
