Stevens set for Mopar Mile-High Nationals after Bandimere testing

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Round 13 of 23
MOPAR MILE-HIGH NHRA NATIONALS
Bandimere Speedway
Morrison, Colo.
Race Dates: July 15-17, 2005

MORRISON, Colo. (July 12, 2005) - Richie Stevens Jr. hasn't competed at
Bandimere Speedway in over four years, so the test session he and his Team
Mopar/Valspar HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus Pro Stock team led by tuner Bob
Glidden held here two weeks ago was a valuable data-gathering expedition.

Preparing for the altitude of this weekend's Mopar Mile-High Nationals at
this track just outside of Denver was vital for the new Don Schumacher
Racing Pro Stock team that came together only this season.

"We tested here immediately after the last race in St. Louis," said Stevens,
the 26-year-old New Orleans native who joined DSR after a two-hear hiatus to
take care of family business while his dad underwent successful open-heart
surgery. "The altitude definitely hurts the Pro Stock cars because they're
normally-aspirated (carbureted), but it affects everybody in that class.

"It will be an equal field like a normal race, but we'll just have to adjust
to it. We'll have to change the gearing in the transmission and the rear
end. The team that does the best with these adjustments will probably be the
one in the winner's circle on Sunday.

"We made about 10 runs in three days of testing," said Stevens, who is sixth
in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock points. "I feel like we did
pretty good. We ran a 7.17 (-second elapsed time), which wasn't the
quickest. Greg Anderson ran a 7.15 and Warren (Johnson) ran a 7.14. We were
right there with them, but we didn't have the race setup in it.

"I think we'll be in their neighborhood this weekend. The Team Mopar/Valspar
Dodge ran good and the track was good. I think we'll be fine.

"Two weeks ago the temperature was around 88 degrees. The heat here is
totally different from the other tracks we go to. There's almost no humidity
here, so it's much nicer, and the air is not as thick. It is the slowest
race we run all year and is probably the most boring for the fans to watch,
but that's just the way it is.

"We really want to perform well for the race sponsor and our sponsor, Mopar.
It's their biggest race of the season and hopefully we will do a good job
for them. I feel better that we got that test session down and that we were
able to gain some data. That's definitely a plus coming into this race. It
builds confidence. Mopar deserves a win. They need a win, the team needs a
win, I need a win. It would be a great group effort for us to pull off our
first win of the season here."

SCHEDULE:      
On Friday, July 15, pro qualifying sessions are at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. On
Saturday, July 16, pro qualifying sessions are at 3 and 6 p.m. (Saturdayıs
first session of Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle is scheduled to begin at
10:15 a.m.) On Sunday, July 17, pre-race ceremonies are at11 a.m. Final
eliminations begin at noon.

TELEVISION:     
On Saturday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights
at 8 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, July 17, ESPN2 will televise three hours of
eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET). Onn Sunday, July 17, ESPN2 will televise NHRA
2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET).

RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS:
* Sixth in 2005 Pro Stock points after 12 races, reached final round once,
was No. 1 qualifier once
* Joined Don Schumacher Racing after sending in a resume for 2005 season
* Cut short driving career in 2002 to run family business while dad Richie
Sr. underwent open-heart surgery
* With dad Richie Stevens Sr. owns Stevens Collision Center in New Orleans
* Born and raised in New Orleans, is 26 years old
* His career-best ET and speed so far: 6.669 ET (Englishtown 2005) and
207.08 mph in Gainesville, Fla., 2005
* Has longtime relationship with associate sponsor Valspar
* Capped off rookie season in 1998 with a victory in his first final-round
appearance (Pomona 2)
* Is youngest Pro Stock driver to win a national event, at 20-one month, in
1998
* Has four career wins in eight final rounds, two No. 1 qualifiers to his
credit
* In 1999 he became the eighth member of the Speed Pro 200-mph Pro Stock
Club with a 200.08 mph run in Richmond, Va.
* Competed in Roy Hill's Pro Mod car in 2004, with a semifinal finish at the
U.S. Nationals his best result