WILKERSON RECLAIMS LEAD IN FUNNY CAR.(NEWS)(Tim Wilkerson)

After leading the NHRA Funny Car points standings for four months, Tim Wilkerson watched it all slip away two weeks ago in Charlotte ("On the Rise, Sept. 22). A first-round loss, combined with the points being reset for the six-race season-ending "playoffs, dropped Wilkerson from first to fifth place in one day.

The sport's only owner/driver/tuner didn't blink and won the next two events, including the latest stop, Memphis Motorsports Park, where he retook the lead by 72 points with three races remaining.

Wilkerson shared the podium with Top Fuel winner Tony Schumacher and Pro Stock winner Mike Edwards.

Wilkerson ran the table to earn his sixth win of the season, beating Melanie Troxel and three John Force Racing Fords to take the trophy in his Chevrolet Impala. The final was a thriller, with Wilkerson eking out a 0.01-second win with a 4.166-second pass at 298.47 mph to Ashley Force's 4.183-second run at 294.18 mph.

The only question left in Top Fuel is when, exactly, Schumacher will clinch his fifth-straight title. He won his 13th race of the year to extend his lead to 166 points. In terms of elimination-round wins, Schumacher's lead equates to slightly more than eight rounds, with just 12 left in the season. He most likely will secure the championship Halloween weekend in Las Vegas.

Pro Stock leader Jeg Coughlin Jr. pushed his lead from 14 to 32 points, despite losing in round two when his engine failed. Edwards was the big winner, collecting his second win of the year with a 6.702-second run at 207.27 mph in his Pontiac GXP. Final-round opponent Jason Line nearly ran down the first timing cone and was forced to abort his run.

INDYCAR TV