WILKERSON GIVES UP INDEPENDENCE

Funny Car driver/owner Tim Wilkerson is the points leader this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and before Saturday’s first round of qualifying he dropped somewhat of a bombshell.

Wilkerson announced that next year he would join with Tasca Racing and form an alliance to operate a two-car team.

Wilkerson will trade in his Chevrolet bodies for Ford Mustangs.

“I’ve always been determined to create a championship-caliber program,” Wilkerson said. “That’s what I’ve been focused on from Day 1 and what I committed to for Ford Motor Company.”

He will be a teammate with Bob Tasca III, an NHRA top rookie candidate this year. Tasca drives for the team owned by his family, which is a legendary Ford dealer.

Wilkerson has won 11 NHRA Funny Car titles including a career-best six this year.

LAST CHANCE FOR SCELZI

Today will be the last time Gary Scelzi competes at the speedway’s dragstrip, unless he changes his mind again.

The Funny Car driver for Don Schumacher Racing and four-time pro world champion will retire after the season finale in two weeks in Pomona, Calif.

Scelzi announced he was going to retire a year ago, but insists this is his last go ... at least for a year.

HALLOWEEN HIGHLIGHTS

Funny Car driver Jack Beckman came to the starting line Friday dressed as Ricky Bobby, the fictional driver Will Ferrell played in “Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby.”

Ironically, “Wonder Bread” was the sponsor on Bobby’s stock car in the movie. The bread company that features colorful balloons on its bread wrappers was the real sponsor in the 1970s on the “Wonder Wagon” Chevrolet Vega Funny Car owned and driven by Don Schumacher, who owns Beckman’s car. ...

In Pro Stock, Justin Humphreys’ car was adorned with bullhorns on its roof and crew chief Brandon Beaver came to the starting line dressed as a matador with a cape. ...

Three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Angelle Sampey created an NHRA cheerleading outfit. It might have helped her earn the provisional pole with a track record run of 6.993 seconds.

She’s trying to win her first event of the season and keep her streak alive of winning at least one title each year since 1996.

COLUMN CLARIFICATION

At least one reader got the impression in my Friday column that Goodyear’s newest racing slicks for Top Fuel and Funny Car was introduced when NHRA shortened races to 1,000 feet.

The model 2550 was in use for two races before the NHRA adopted the shorter course in July near Denver when the racing distance was reduced from 1,320 feet.