Stevens Jr. aims for the top in Phoenix

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 2 of 23
CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS
FIREBIRD INTL RACEWAY
CHANDLER, Ariz.
Race Date: Feb. 24-26, 2006

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

STEVENS JR. AIMS FOR THE TOP IN PHOENIX

PHOENIX (Feb. 21, 2006) - Don Schumacher Racing Pro Stocker Richie Stevens
Jr. is determined to take his Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T into the
NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series winner's circle this year, and he feels
this weekend's Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird
International Raceway is as good a place as any. This is where he qualified
No. 1 last season in only his second race for DSR.

The Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge has been running strong of late because of a
new Mopar engine block and the hard work of his tuner, 10-time Pro Stock
champion and legend Bob Glidden. Stevens qualified seventh at the
season-opening event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (Calif.) and, despite a
first-round upset on a holeshot, he is confident heading into Phoenix. "We
had a very good car in Pomona, and there is still a lot more left in it,"
said the New Orleans native. "There is a lot of promise in the car, in the
engine and in myself. Hopefully we can get all three going together."

Last year in Phoenix, after qualifying on the pole and defeating Erica
Enders in the opening round, he fell victim to his then teammate Jeg
Coughlin Jr. in the quarterfinals. "I have another year under my belt coming
into Phoenix this weekend," Stevens said. "That gives me a good feeling
coming into this race.

"I'd like to come out this weekend and make everyone's heads turn. People
know we have the power, and now we have to let them know we are for real. I
want to go out there and qualify on the pole and then win the race. I feel
like we are in a position to do that."

Stevens is also focusing on getting his new teammate's car into the field
and running strong: "We need to get Shaun (Carlson) in the field so we have
both cars to work off of. That worked well last year with Jeggie (Coughlin
Jr.). We usually had one car to use a baseline set-up off of."

RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS:
* Ninth in 2006 Pro Stock points after one event
* Eighth in 2005 Pro Stock points, reached final round twice, was No. 1
qualifier once
* Qualified No. 1 in Phoenix last year with an elapsed time of 6.735-seconds
at 205.35 mph, lost second round to Jeg Coughlin Jr.
* 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 27 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 nine 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

***