Stevens qualifies 14th in Topeka

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 9 of 23
O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS
HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, Kan.
Race Dates: May 27-29, 2005


STEVENS QUALIFIES IN BOTTOM HALF OF FIELD FOR ONLY THE FIFTH TIME THIS
SEASON

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 28, 2005) - Richie Stevens Jr. continues to be impressed
with crew chief Bob Glidden and the new Team Mopar/Valspar HEMI-powered
Dodge Stratus Pro Stock effort from Don Schumacher Racing he joined this
year. In a series famous for its tight fields, Stevens has qualified for
each of the nine events so far.

Today, he qualified 14th - not his best, but also not his worst. He's
qualified in the bottom half of the field five times so far and four times
in the top half, including a No. 1 qualifier in Phoenix this year.

Stevens posted his best pass in today's third session, a 6.785/203.61. He
also pulled out a 6.788/203.71 in the first round, but struggled in the
other two.

"The good news is we qualified, the bad news is we're having bad luck," said
the New Orleans native. "Two out of four good runs. Last night we just blew
the tires off in the good session and didn't get down the track. We came out
this morning and made a really, really nice run - not picture perfect, but
good enough to pick us up some spots.

"As for this last session, we have no idea what happened. I let the clutch
out and it just fell on its face, almost like it was out of fuel. It had
fuel, the fuel pump was on, it had good fuel pump pressure, so I don't have
any idea what the deal is.

"The good part is we're here tomorrow, we get to race Kurt Johnson first
round, hopefully get an upset from the 14th spot, and I'm in. This is kind
of one of those weird weekends."