Stevens checks in at No. 5 in Vegas qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
No. 21 of 23
ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals
The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas, Nev.
Race Dates: Oct. 21-23, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

STEVENS CHECKS IN AT NO. 5 IN VEGAS QUALIFYING

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 22, 2005) - Richie Stevens Jr. checked in at No. 5 in Pro
Stock qualifying for the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at
Las Vegas Motor Speedway after four qualifying rounds.

Stevens, who drives the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T for Don
Schumacher Racing, breathed a sigh of relief when his teammate Jeg Coughlin
Jr. qualified No. 7. The pair has met four times in the opening round this
season, and five overall, with Stevens on the losing end with a 4-1 win/loss
record. With both drivers qualifying in the top half and on different sides
of the ladder, they would not meet until the final round, if all went well.

Stevens posted a 6.838-second elapsed time at 201.31 mph in the final
session to place fifth, but he recorded a speed of 202.03 mph in Friday's
first session, the fourth fastest speed of qualifying. Kurt Johnson claimed
the first two, of 202.76 and 202.94, and Jason Line ran 202.09 mph.

Stevens' other passes included a 6.841/202.03, 6.865/201.40 and
6.871/200.83.

"We had a good car all during qualifying," said the New Orleans native. "We
made some good runs and we're in the top half. We don't have to run each
other, which is a big plus.

"We have lane choice, which I don't think really matters, because we've run
pretty good in both lanes.

"Jeg and I ran well in both of lanes in each session. I'm looking forward to
it. It seems like everything is going good. Tomorrow is another day, but I'm
as ready as I have been, actually. I feel pretty good."

Stevens faces Greg Stanfield in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

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