Stevens out early in Sonoma

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 15 of 23
Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals
Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, Calif.
Race Date: July 28-30, 2006



SONOMA, Calif. (July 30, 2006) - Richie Stevens Jr. entered today's
Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals looking for his first Pro Stock win since
joining Don Schumacher Racing in 2005, but an opening-round foul-out at the
starting line against Mike Edwards nixed any chances of his visiting the
winner's circle at Infineon Raceway.

Stevens was more than disappointed with the -.060-reaction time (.000 is
perfect). "I don't know what happened. It's not something that I
anticipated," said the driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T.
"I was ready, and I just can't believe it happened."

It was Stevens' second red-light start of the season. "I'm totally
frustrated. You hate to do that to the crew guys. They are here early
in the morning and they stay here late at night working on the car, so
it's hard to swallow.

"I think the fact that we are running so good lately only makes it worse,"
he noted of the team's recent streak of three quarterfinal and two semifinal
finishes dating back to Englishtown, N.J. (five events ago).

"I'm going to keep my head up and go to Brainerd (Minn.) and try for the
win there. We have the car, the people, and the equipment." Stevens is
currently 10th in the Pro Stock point standings with 675 points.

He has one weekend off before heading to Brainerd, Minn., for the Lucas
Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 10-13.