CLERMONT, Ind. -- His wife says he's like a duck. Krista Wilkerson sees husband Tim appearing to glide gracefully through Funny Car waters. But she knows he's kicking frantically beneath the surface.

Even as the Springfield, Ill., driver earned his second NHRA career victory at the U.S. Nationals Sept. 7 -- his first in 101 races -- Tim Wilkerson wasn't floating along peacefully. He won with a 4.841-second elapsed time at 321.19 miles an hour over Johnny Gray's 4.903/314.24.

Wilkerson said his Levi Ray & Shoup Pontiac Firebird had performed respectably in heat-of-the-day qualifying runs, yet he found himself starting No. 15. He had to race suddenly strong Gary Scelzi, the No. 2 driver who in the previous three races had led the field twice and won once.

Consultant/co-crew chief Fred Mandolini often needles him, saying, "Who's the enemy,

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Wilkerson? That's right -- you are." Although Wilkerson had been runner-up in the previous event, Mandolini wasn't letting up on him as eliminations began at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

"It's going to take more than a (4.)85 or .86 to win this round. Tune this junk up," he barked. Wilkerson did and beat Scelzi, posting a career-best speed of 321.27 on the way. He got lucky against Scotty Cannon in Round 2, despite dropping a cylinder on the start. With that problem fixed, he faced Dean Skuza, the Sonoma runner-up who has been making a convincing case to get back in the top 10. He eliminated Skuza, who had motor problems at the hit of the throttle.

Then before the final, Mandolini commanded, "Wilkerson, our mothers are watching. We need five more seconds of stellar Wilkerson performance. Now give it to me." He did. And in the process, he satisfied a six-year-old urge to pop off to Whit Bazemore and a six-month desire to make good on his February warning to his Funny Car colleagues.

When he qualified No. 1 at the season-opening Winternationals, he said he was ready to run a full season and dog the regulars, who might have overlooked him even though he missed seven events in 2002 and still finished 12th in points. His string of nine first-round losses and one failure to qualify didn't make them quiver.