Stevens holds on to 12th in Vegas qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 5 of 23
NHRA SUMMITRACING.COM NATIONALS
THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS
Race Dates: April 15-17, 2005



STEVENS HOLDS ON TO 12TH IN VEGAS QUALIFYING

LAS VEGAS (April 16, 2005) - Richie Stevens Jr. qualified the Team Mopar
HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock No. 12 for the NHRA Nationals at
The Strip at Las Vegas, and will face reigning Pro Stock champion Greg
Anderson in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

His teammate Jeg Coughlin Jr., in the Jeg's Mail Order/Mopar Dodge Stratus,
qualified No. 4 and meets Jim Yates.

"We gave it our best," he said. "We ended up 12th, which is better than
17th, and Jeggie is No. 4. He should be able to handle Yates, and hopefully
I can pull of an upset against Greg Anderson coming from the bottom half of
the field.

"We're pretty happy. In five races so far, we're five for five in qualifying
with both cars and it's all good.

"We made two runs in the right lane which weren't picture perfect. The car
has gone to the right in both runs. I guess it's got to be something with
the lane, because when we put it in the left lane and it goes straight both
times. 

"I guess we're lucky to be here and some are going home who wish they could
be where I'm at. Hopefully we can go some rounds tomorrow. We need to get
back in the top 10 in points (he's 12th). That would work.

"We'll jut go up there and take whichever lane he puts us in and hopefully
we'll turn our win light on first."