Mopar Pro Stocker Stevens Jr. qualifies No. 4 in Phoenix

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 2 of 23
CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS
FIREBIRD INTL RACEWAY
CHANDLER, Ariz.
Race Date: Feb. 24-26, 2006

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25, 2006) - For the second straight race of the 2006
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, Richie Stevens, Jr. has qualified the Team
Mopar/Valspar HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus R/T in the top half of the Pro
Stock field. This time he looks to take advantage of his No. 4 qualifying
position and run deeper into Sunday's elimination rounds at the Checker
Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird Raceway.

The New Orleans native opened qualifying with a 6.732-second elapsed time at
204.57 mph on Friday, then kicked it up a notch in the cooler night
conditions, posting a 6.685/205.38, his quickest of the weekend and equal in
ET to reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson's run at the time for No. 2.
Stevens was relegated to No. 3 because of speed.

Saturday's warmer conditions produced a 6.707/205.63 and a 6.739/204.82 for
Stevens, and he lost one spot to qualify No. 4. Anderson moved to the front
with a 6.671/206.83 and Jason Line squeaked in ahead of Stevens with a
6.684/205.98.

Stevens is happy with the effort and believes Team Mopar/Valspar is on the
right track. "It's not as good as last year (No. 1), but we'll take it," he
said. "It puts us in the top half of the field and gives us lane choice.

"We'll try and do what we can. We want to go some rounds, and obviously
that starts with the first round. That's where we'll start."

He is the quickest qualifying Mopar in the field, and is inspired by the
progress Mopar has made in the Pro Stock class. "We are on the right page;
we've picked up some ground from last year. We are qualifying strong, and I
feel like we've picked up some ground on Greg (Anderson). As the year
progresses we'll get stronger. We are right there with everyone. The Mopar
cars are looking good."

Stevens' rookie teammate Shaun Carlson failed to make the Pro Stock
field for the second consecutive race, so he would like to run strong
tomorrow to take the focus off Carlson. "He just needs some time,
and hopefully we can give him that time," said Stevens. "If I am running
strong and winning rounds, then I think that will help out."

For now, Stevens is focused on Sunday's final eliminations where he will
square off in the first round against Dave Connolly.

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