Pro Stock rookie Carlson well prepared for Chicago race

EDITOR'S NOTE: 
CORRECTION: In the recent CARQUEST Nationals advance release for Richie
Stevens Jr., we stated that the last time Stevens competed in the King Demon
Crown was in 2000. In fact, Stevens has earned a spot in the special NHRA
bonus event four times: 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2006. Stevens will compete for
the $76,000 22nd Annual King Demon Crown this weekend at Route 66 Raceway.
He faces Kurt Johnson in the first round on June 10.

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 10 of 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
Race Date: June 9-11, 2006

JOLIET, Ill. (June 7, 2006) - NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock
Rookie Shaun Carlson is anticipating a competitive weekend of racing for
himself at this weekend's CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Route 66
Raceway.

His confidence stems from a test session held this week at Gateway
International Raceway in Madison, Ill., in which assistant crew chief (and
driver) Terry Adams piloted the Team Mopar/SRT Dodge Stratus R/T in place of
Carlson. From all reports, the tests showed an improvement in horsepower in
the Mopar engines that are being developed at crew chief David Nickens' shop
in Conroe, Texas.

"In talking with the crew guys during the test, they say the engines are
pumping out more power," said Carlson. "They brought one engine up from
Texas for the test, and it's my understanding that we will have another one
up here for the race."

Although Carlson didn't attend the test session, he's confident the
improvements will benefit his and the car's performance at Route 66 Raceway
this weekend. "It killed me not being there," he said, "whether it's working
on the car, driving the car, whatever it is. You hate to feel like you
aren't contributing. But, the good thing is that Terry will know exactly how
the car needs to be set up after driving it for a couple days.

"I am definitely getting more comfortable in the car, so I feel good heading
into this weekend. With Terry running my car at the test, working on the
four-link suspension and the set-up of the car, I know the Team Mopar/SRT
Dodge will run straight, and with Nickens preparing the engines in Texas, we
should have the horsepower as well.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend. It's an important race for us because
it is (team owner) Don Schumacher's hometown race and it is the start of a
three-race swing. It would be great to start off on a good note."

SHAUN CARLSON QUICK FACTS:
* Qualified for his first event of 2006 in Las Vegas (No. 12)
* Rookie season in Pro Stock class
* First year with Don Schumacher Racing
* Was named second DSR Pro Stock driver after February '06 test session
at LVMS
* Quickest elapsed time to date: 6.740 seconds (Gainesville, Fla.)
* Fastest speed to date: 205.60 mph (Pomona 1)
* Owned and drove his Team Mopar SRT4 in the NHRA Xplod Sport Compact
Racing Series in 2005, grabbing one win and finishing fourth in points.
* Finished fourth in 2004 Sport Compact points standings
* Is a two-time Sport Compact event winner
* Subbed for an injured Darrell Alderman in the 2004 NHRA Winternationals
Pro Stock event at Pomona, grabbing an early round win and nearly advancing
to the semifinals in his Pro Stock debut
* Finished third in '03 Pro FWD points
* 2002 Xbox Cup champion in the Pro Outlaw class
* A famous engine builder and FWD performance guru, Carlson has worked
on projects such as the world record-holding import drag car driven by
Stephan Papadakis.
* First FWD builder to run in the 9s and 8s.
* Built the first Sport Compact drag car with a tube chassis
* Has been drag racing professionally since 1999
* President and founder of NuFormz, an 11-year-old company that builds
aftermarket components in Ontario, Calif.

SCHEDULE:
Friday, June 9, professional qualifying sessions are at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 10, pro qualifying sessions continue at 12:10 p.m. and 3:05
p.m. King Demon Crown elimination rounds are at noon, 3, and 4:25 p.m.
Sunday, June 11, pre-race ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m., final eliminations
begin at 11 a.m.

TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 10, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 5 p.m. (ET).
Sunday June 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly
news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations
at 5 p.m. (ET).

SATELLITE:
Friday, June 9, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6, Transponder 15K (Downlink
frequency, 12072 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, June 10, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6, Transponder 15K (Downlink
frequency, 12072 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, June 11, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) – SBS 6, Transponder 15K (Downlink
frequency, 12072 MHz, horizontal)

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