[coverattach=1]POMONA, Calif. - Springfield, Ill. Funny Car team owner/driver, Tim Wilkerson was presented the second annual 1320 TV- sponsored Mike Aiello Award before opening ceremonies of the Auto Club of Southern California Finals Sunday morning at the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
The award honors Aiello, a longtime drag racing fan and former Pro Stock crew member for Jerry Yeoman, who spent his final years confined to a wheelchair after a workplace injury. Despite physical hardship and severe mobility limitations, he not only attended drag races but made dozens of friends among racers, crew members, and media with his positive outlook and unselfish behavior.
Aiello passed away December 29, 2006, at the age of 39 in Santa Monica, Calif.
The Mike Aiello Award dubbed by the media as “The Spirit of Drag Racing Award” honors determination and the spirit it takes to persevere and remain positive in spite of obstacles.
Last year’s inaugural recipient was John Medlen, father of Funny Car driver, the late Eric Medlen, who was killed in a testing accident in 2007. Despite the anguish he endured after the loss of his son, Medlen wasted no time in turning Eric’s death into a vehicle for change. The Eric Medlen Project was created with Medlen at the helm and is dedicated to evaluate and enhance race car safety in all forms of racing.
Wilkerson, who drives the Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Impala SS Funny Car, epitomizes this spirit with his strength of character while building a championship caliber team. As an independent, Wilkerson challenged the multicar teams and their seemingly endless resources to become a leader. In the process, he has made many friends and earned the respect of all the racers. Behind the scenes, he has lobbied for safety measures, for bigger purses, and for whatever seemed to be right and beneficial for the sport.
Wilkerson received the award in a ceremony held in the Levi, Ray & Shoup hospitality area early Sunday morning. An emotional Susan Wade, founder of 1320 TV presented the award to Wilkerson in front of a crowd comprised of Wilk’s team, his family, friends, sponsor Dick Levi and his family, and many fans.
While accepting the award, a truly touched Wilkerson said, “thank you, this is a great honor. We all knew Mike and he was a great guy. And we can all see how much this means to Susan. She’s a good friend and if she feels I deserve this, than that makes me proud.
“I know John received this last year. Any time you’re mentioned with the Medlens you’re in a good group. Again, thank you for this honor.”
The award honors Aiello, a longtime drag racing fan and former Pro Stock crew member for Jerry Yeoman, who spent his final years confined to a wheelchair after a workplace injury. Despite physical hardship and severe mobility limitations, he not only attended drag races but made dozens of friends among racers, crew members, and media with his positive outlook and unselfish behavior.
Aiello passed away December 29, 2006, at the age of 39 in Santa Monica, Calif.
The Mike Aiello Award dubbed by the media as “The Spirit of Drag Racing Award” honors determination and the spirit it takes to persevere and remain positive in spite of obstacles.
Last year’s inaugural recipient was John Medlen, father of Funny Car driver, the late Eric Medlen, who was killed in a testing accident in 2007. Despite the anguish he endured after the loss of his son, Medlen wasted no time in turning Eric’s death into a vehicle for change. The Eric Medlen Project was created with Medlen at the helm and is dedicated to evaluate and enhance race car safety in all forms of racing.
Wilkerson, who drives the Levi, Ray & Shoup Chevrolet Impala SS Funny Car, epitomizes this spirit with his strength of character while building a championship caliber team. As an independent, Wilkerson challenged the multicar teams and their seemingly endless resources to become a leader. In the process, he has made many friends and earned the respect of all the racers. Behind the scenes, he has lobbied for safety measures, for bigger purses, and for whatever seemed to be right and beneficial for the sport.
Wilkerson received the award in a ceremony held in the Levi, Ray & Shoup hospitality area early Sunday morning. An emotional Susan Wade, founder of 1320 TV presented the award to Wilkerson in front of a crowd comprised of Wilk’s team, his family, friends, sponsor Dick Levi and his family, and many fans.
While accepting the award, a truly touched Wilkerson said, “thank you, this is a great honor. We all knew Mike and he was a great guy. And we can all see how much this means to Susan. She’s a good friend and if she feels I deserve this, than that makes me proud.
“I know John received this last year. Any time you’re mentioned with the Medlens you’re in a good group. Again, thank you for this honor.”
