Stevens Jr. keeping his head down, staying focused for Sonoma
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 15 of 23 Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals Infineon Raceway Sonoma, Calif. Race Date: July 28-30, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net STEVENS JR. KEEPING HIS HEAD DOWN, STAYING FOCUSED FOR SONOMA SONOMA, Calif. (July 26, 2006) - Richie Stevens Jr. has been steadily climbing the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Pro Stock standings, and he wants to keep the momentum going this weekend at the Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway by grabbing his first win of the 2006 season. In the past two weeks, Stevens has moved the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T from 12th to ninth in the standings after a quarterfinal finish in Denver and a semifinal result in Seattle. For Stevens, a win would be a great way to cap off the Western Swing (Denver, Seattle and Sonoma, Calif.). "We made it two rounds in Denver, three in Seattle, so now we just need to take it further and get to the money round and really pick up points," he says. "We've been doing really well lately. Doing well on this Western Swing was really important to us, especially to get us back into the top 10. We've accomplished that, so now we just have to hold onto it and keep going," says the New Orleans native. His outlook for this weekend: "It's going to be a hot track again at Infineon Raceway, similar to Seattle and Denver. It's going to be a crew chief's game to figure out the track, and I'm sure we'll have the right setup. David (Nickens, crew chief/engine builder), Terry Adams (co-crew chief), and Mike Sullivan (clutch specialist) have been doing a hell of a job. They really have a handle on the car, and that feels good as a driver." RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS: * Ninth in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 14 events, only 32 points short of eighth * Qualified No. 9 (6.700) at 2005 Fram-Autolite NHRA Nationals, lost second round to Kurt Johnson * 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 WEEKEND SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, July 28 ‹ PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 3:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. SATURDAY, July 29 ‹ PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 10 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. SUNDAY, July 30 ‹ Pre-race ceremonies, 11 a.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at noon. TELEVISION: Saturday, July 29, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, July 30, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, July 28, 11:30 p.m.-midnight (ET) SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) Saturday, July 29, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) Sunday, July 30, 11:30 p.m.-midnight (ET) SBS 10 R, Transponder 23 K (12160 MHz, vertical) ***