Stevens Jr. focused on moving up in Pro Stock points
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 12 of 23 O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Gateway International Raceway Madison, Ill. Race Date: June 23-25, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net STEVENS JR. FOCUSED ON MOVING UP IN PRO STOCK POINTS MADISON, Ill. (June 21, 2006) - Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T driver Richie Stevens Jr. is intent on turning his Pro Stock season around as he heads to Gateway International Raceway for this weekend's O'Reilly Midwest NHRA Nationals. He is focused on closing the gap between his No. 13 position in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock standings and the top 10. The difference is only 33 points (less than two round wins). The team has made solid progress, including a semifinal finish in Chicago and a quarterfinal result in Englishtown, which helped tighten the points. "We are finally going rounds and qualifying well (No. 1 in Chicago), and it feels awesome to be putting it all together," says Stevens. "This class is so tough, and it seems like every week somebody big is not making the field. As long as we take care of what we need to, then we'll get this Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T back in the top 10. The key is just to get a few rounds here and a few rounds there on a consistent basis." What about a win? "That is definitely the goal every weekend," says the New Orleans native, "and I think we are right there. David (Nickens, crew chief) and Terry (Adams, assistant crew chief) are doing an awesome job giving me a great car every weekend. And David is going to keep getting us more and more horsepower. A couple wins and we'd shoot right up the standings like (Dave) Connolly did after his two wins (up to fourth.)" RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS: * Thirteenth in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 11 events, only 33 points out of 10th, 41 out of eighth) * Qualified No. 5 (6.772) at St. Louis 2005, lost first round to Greg Stanfield * Semifinalist in King Demon Crown at Chicago 2006 * Joined Don Schumacher Racing after sending in a resume for 2005 season * Eighth in 2005 Pro Stock points, reached final round twice, was No. 1 qualifier once * Qualified No. 1 in Chicago, his first pole position of 2006, third of career * 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: 6.635 ET at 207.40 mph (Chicago 2006) * 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, three 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 SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, June 23, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. SATURDAY, June 24, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. SUNDAY, June 25, Pre-race ceremonies, 2 p.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 3 p.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, June 24, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET). Sunday, June 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, June 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, June 23, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, June 24, No feed scheduled, please roll on ESPN2 show, 10 p.m. (ET) Sunday, June 25, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal) ***