Nomadic Stevens looks to maintain momentum in Reading
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES ROUND 19 OF 23 TOYO TIRES NHRA NATIONALS MAPLE GROVE RACEWAY READING, PA. Race Dates: Sept. 16-18, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net NOMADIC STEVENS LOOKS TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM IN READING READING, Pa. (Sept. 13, 2005) - Richie Stevens Jr., who has been literally on the road since fleeing Hurricane Katrinaıs wrath on his native New Orleans on Aug. 28, will arrive in Reading, Pa., on Friday morning after a visit with his teammate Jeg Coughlin and the Jegıs Mail Order family in Columbus, Ohio. The driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus R/T in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock division is eager to keep up the momentum he gained at the U.S. Nationals on Labor Day, where he reached his second final round of the year. Heıs hoping this weekendıs Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway will take his mind away from the destruction of his home in New Orleans heıll have to face when he returns there, while he and his Bob Glidden-led team produce another strong showing. ³I was very pleased with how the weekend went at the U.S. Nationals,² says Stevens, ³considering all the stuff that had gone on the weekend before. To come into Indy and do as well as we did made me very happy. It definitely picked up the momentum for me a bunch as well as for the team. Hopefully it will carry us through. ³Iıve done pretty well in Reading in the past,² adds Stevens, who did make one 10-hour visit to his parentsı home on Lake Pontchartrain before turning around and driving to Atlanta for a Mopar event. ³I donıt really have a losing record here, but I havenıt won anything either. ³The conditions should be cool at night, which should produce some quick numbers. Hopefully, our luck will continue and maybe it will turn around all the way and let us get one more round further.² SCHEDULE: On Friday, Sept. 16, pro qualifying sessions are at 2 and 5 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 17, pro qualifying continues a at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 18, pre-race ceremonies are at10 a.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: On Saturday, Sept. 17, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 4 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Sept. 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Also on Sunday, Sept. 18, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations coverage at 4 p.m. (ET). RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS: * Seventh in 2005 Pro Stock points after 18 races, reached final round twice, 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 **