Stevens goes to final round in Bristol

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 6 of 23
O'REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NHRA NATIONALS
BRISTOL (Tenn.) DRAGWAY
Race Dates: April 29-May 1, 2005



BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 1, 2005) - Richie Stevens bulldozed through the Pro
Stock field today in his new Team Mopar/Valspar HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus
to reach the final round for the first time since joining Don Schumacher
Racing in 2005. This was also his first final round since his win in
Englishtown, N.J., in 2001, his eighth career.

Stevens eliminated the reigning two-time champion Greg Anderson in the first
round with a 6.754/203.98 pass, points leader coming into this race Dave
Connolly in the second with a 6.750/204.05 and V Gaines in the semifinal
with a 6.756/203.68. He entered each round with lane choice.

He had lane choice again when he faced six-time Pro Stock champion Warren
Johnson in the final round. But his charge ended when he red-lighted with a
-.049 reaction time, handing the win over to W.J., who claimed the victory
with a 6.756/203.89 to Stevens' losing 6.777/203.22.

"We've been good all weekend," said the New Orleans native. "We were real
consistent all day. Luckily we got in on that one hit yesterday and I'm just
glad to make it into the final," he said, referring to his qualifying eighth
in the only qualifying round held this weekend because of rain.

"It would have been nice to win. My fault. I need to straighten up a little
bit. We got back in the top 10 in points, and we gained some ground and
hopefully we'll get a win soon. I thought it was going to be today.
Everything was kind of flowing like it should be, and I goofed up.

"I didn't have to push it that hard. W.J. and I ran identical times in the
semifnals (W.J. posted a 6.757). I shouldn't have tried to push it as hard
as I did. It was just final-round tension. I was nervous, anxious, wanting
to win, wanting to win for everybody and I guess it just kind of bit me
back."

Stevens moves into eighth in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series point
standings.

Next up is the NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga., May 13-15.

PRO STOCK POINT STANDINGS:
1. Warren Johnson, 536
2. Dave Connolly, 486
3. Jason Line, 379
4. Greg Anderson, 365
5. Ron Krisher, 316
6. Jim Yates, 315
7. Kurt Johnson, 306
8. Richie Stevens, 297
9. Greg Stanfield, 294
10. Allen Johnson, 289