Dirt
BILL SKILLMAN
How did you end up in a Cobra
Jet Mustang?
I ordered two Cobra Jets for our Ford
dealership to sell in 2010. I was out of town
when they came in, and when I got back,
they were gone. My son, Drew, and my
father, Ray, took them to Indy and were
playing with them at the drag strip, and
that’s where it all started. So, in 2012, when
Ford built the next series of Cobra Jets, we
bought more for the dealership – and I got
a car. That was the first year I ever sat down
in a race car. I was 50 years old.
What’s it like racing with Drew in the
same class?
It’s awesome. We’re very competitive, and nei-
ther one of us is going to let the other one win.
We’re going down fighting, but we both have a
good time doing what we’re doing. We both want
to beat each other, and we enjoy it. That’s how
it’s supposed to be.
Why did you decide to compete in the Fac-
tory Stock Showdown?
We still run Stock, Super Stock, and Comp.
My dad is typically the one that runs Comp, and
sometimes Drew. We decided we wanted to race
the Factory Stock Showdown because we loved
what this class was. You could go fast, and it was
a heads-up class. That’s what we think racing
should be, so that’s why we got into it, and it’s
been great.
We’ve seen these cars going faster and faster.
What are your thoughts on slowing that pro-
gression down?
I’ve not been a proponent of slowing the cars
down. I don’t think they need to go (as fast as)
what the cage is rated at, but I think they’re fine
to go 7.70s or 7.80s in really good air. They want
more of a level playing field, and I guess that’s OK
– but it makes it tough for the manufacturers who
work really hard to come up with a really good
program. But hey, we have to deal with it. We just
have to keep trying to find more horsepower out
of what we have to work with.
You have some tough competition, including
Bo Butner, the driver you and Drew both beat
in a final this year. What will it take to win
the Factory Stock Showdown championship?
We’ve had some good races, and Bo is going
to get a win this year, there is no doubt about it.
I think he’s actually faster than we are right now.
But we’re working hard, and hopefully we can
get it figured out. I think it’s really going to boil
down to who can get off that brake pedal faster
and get down the track. The cars are all going to
be competitive with the new rules; we’ll just see
what that brings.
You’ve seen your son win, and now you’ve
got a national event win. What’s been your
proudest moment in racing so far?
I’m going to say Drew’s first double-up in At-
lanta. He won Stock and Super Stock on the same
day, and you couldn’t have pried the smile off my
face. I cried like a baby.
What do you see in your future, in regard
to drag racing?
I’m almost 58 years old, so I see myself doing
this for a couple more years, probably. My wife
and I love to travel, and I have a bunch of dealer-
ships to take care of, but I hope Drew or another
family member continues this. I don’t think you’ll
ever see us out of racing. We enjoy it too much.
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Issue 146
on several years later to Pro Stock, where
he was awarded seven hard-fought trophies.
In 2019, Bill Skillman has been in the
spotlight along with son Drew as they have
battled for the top spot in the Factory Stock
Showdown championship standings. Drew
won Gainesville, Bill earned his first NHRA
win with a victory in Charlotte, and Drew
won again in Richmond. Their respective
Cobra Jet Mustangs came into the season
fast, and Bill was the No. 1 qualifier at the
first two events. Bill has been strongly sup-
portive of his son’s racing career. Now, he’s
relishing his own time in the driver’s seat.