Qualifying consistency is key for Stevens Jr. in Vegas
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 5 of 23 NHRA Summitracing.com Nationals THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Race Date: April 7-9, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net QUALIFYING CONSISTENCY IS KEY FOR STEVENS JR. IN VEGAS LAS VEGAS (April 4, 2006) - Richie Stevens Jr. wants to get back to the basics this weekend at the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He believes that qualifying with four consistent runs in the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T is a great way to start an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock weekend. The focus thus far in the 2006 season for Stevens has been round wins on Sunday, but he has been around the highly-competitive class long enough to know consistency is the key to getting those wins. "A lot of the successful teams in this class have really consistent race cars week-in and week-out," he said. "I know that is what Bob (Glidden, crew chief) really wants to focus on to get us back on track (following a string of early-round losses). We had that last year, so I know we can get the car going. We have the horsepower, a great crew, and a lot going for us. For whatever reason we haven't gotten the win light on Sundays as much as we would want. "Everyone has their own game plan out here; set-ups, teamwork, intimidation, and horsepower. We have a lot of that, and we have our own little ways too. We'll just tighten things up a bit and roll up our sleeves. It's like I told the crew guys last Sunday (following a hole-shot loss in the first round, 'We're all in this together, don't hang your heads,'" he said. "It's still early in the season and I know we have a championship-contending car. We tested so well in the off-season, and Mopar has given us a ton of horsepower to work with. Now we just have to put it all together." Stevens has qualified in the top half of the 16-car field in all but one race (Houston) this season, and currently sits No. 11 in the point standings with 153 points, only 17 from cracking the top 10. "There's a long way to go. We can get the car into the top 10, then the top five, and so on. A little bit at a time. "Maybe Las Vegas will be where we turn it around. I'm always talking about luck, and there's nowhere better than Las Vegas to have good luck. I'll take it wherever I can get it, and, like Bob says, sometimes you have to make good luck yourself." SCHEDULE: On Friday, April 7, professional qualifying sessions are at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturday, April 8, pro qualifying sessions continue at noon and 3 p.m. On Sunday, April 9, final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, April 8, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday April 9, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, April 9, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, April 7, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 11 / Transponder 13 K (downlink freq: 11960 horizontal) Saturday, April 8, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 11 / 13 K (downlink freq: 11960 horizontal) Sunday, April 9, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) Galaxy 10R / 23 K (downlink freq: 12160 horizontal) RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS: * Eleventh in 2006 Pro Stock standings after four events * Eighth in 2005 Pro Stock points, reached final round twice, was No. 1 qualifier once * Qualified No. 12 at the SummitRacing.com Nationals in 2005, lost first round to Greg Anderson * 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 (Sept. 27, 1978) * 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 and 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 ***