Stevens squeaks into Brainerd Pro Stock field in No. 16

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 16 of 23
LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
Brainerd (Minn.) Int'l Raceway
Race Date: Aug. 11-13, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

STEVENS SQUEAKS INTO BRAINERD PRO STOCK FIELD AS NO. 16 QUALIFIER

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 12, 2006) - Richie Stevens Jr. squeaked his way
into the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Pro Stock field today with a
6.785-second elapsed-time pass at 203.00 mph, just quick enough
to get him into the No. 16 spot in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series'
most competitive class.

Temporarily bumped from the field prior to his best pass in today's third
session, he was concerned that it might not hold up through the final
qualifying round at Brainerd International Raceway. "I was a little worried
about Mark Pawuk and Ron Krisher in that final session. Especially after
(Dave) Connolly moved past us and put us on the bump," said the driver of
the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T for Don Schumacher Racing.

"Luckily they were not able to get in, and that saved us, especially with us
aborting our run," said Stevens, of the mechanical problem he suffered in
that final attempt.

On Friday, he set consistent laps of 6.792/202.97 and 6.792/202.88.
In his final qualifying run, a part in the car's rear-end broke, resulting
in a 14.560/56.74 pass.

"We broke a piece in the rear end on that last pass, and it's too bad
because we wanted to move up some spots," he said. "But, if it was going to
happen, I guess it is better that it happened today than during tomorrow's
first round. David (Nickens, crew chief/engine builder) and the
Mopar/Valspar guys will get it fixed and ready for tomorrow."

Stevens is looking at the bright side for Sunday's eliminations. "We are in
the field, that's the good news," said the New Orleans native. "The bad
news is we have the best Pro Stock driver in the world (reigning three-time
Pro Stock champion and No. 1 qualifier here), Greg Anderson, in the first
round.

"We haven't really made a good run all weekend, so we're still waiting
to make that run. Hopefully we'll do it in the morning when we need it
the most, and get past Greg. It would be an upset, but there have
been a few of those this year. We'll see what we can do.

"We've got a shot at it, I'll just go up there and do my thing."

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