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ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2007) - Richie Stevens Jr. drove the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T to No. 1 in Friday night qualifying for the ProCare Rx NHRA SuperNationals, setting a career-best elapsed time of 6.598 seconds at a career-best speed of 209.20 mph.
His earlier run produced a 6.645/207.53.
Two more qualifying sessions are scheduled for Saturday.
"The night session is very important, especially for the Pro Stock cars," said Stevens. "We run carburetors, (they're) naturally-aspirated and whenever the session is the coolest is probably going to be our best. The night session is always the best for us. It's hard to make it work sometimes because you only get one good night session in. You kind of got to take advantage of it. Luckily, we did. We ran a .59, which is awesome for us. And it put us on top. So hopefully it will stick for tomorrow and hopefully it won't get too cool in the morning and we can hold on to it.
"We missed the .50s last year in Virginia, we went 6.600 (there). We just missed the .50 mark, so it's good to get it here and be the only one in the field that's got it right now.
"It felt really good, and actually when they came across (the radio) and told me the time, I thought they said .69. I said, What did you say?, and he said .59. That kind of fell in after that. But it felt like a really good run. It was perfect from A to B. I haven't seen it yet on the computer, but it felt like a really awesome run.
"(Engine builder) Roy Johnson, Allen's dad, has been working real hard at the shop and to get that for him feels real good and I'm proud to do it."
RICHIE STEVENS JR. GRABS NO. 1 IN FRIDAY QUALIFYING
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 22, 2007) - Richie Stevens Jr. drove the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T to No. 1 in Friday night qualifying for the ProCare Rx NHRA SuperNationals, setting a career-best elapsed time of 6.598 seconds at a career-best speed of 209.20 mph.
His earlier run produced a 6.645/207.53.
Two more qualifying sessions are scheduled for Saturday.
"The night session is very important, especially for the Pro Stock cars," said Stevens. "We run carburetors, (they're) naturally-aspirated and whenever the session is the coolest is probably going to be our best. The night session is always the best for us. It's hard to make it work sometimes because you only get one good night session in. You kind of got to take advantage of it. Luckily, we did. We ran a .59, which is awesome for us. And it put us on top. So hopefully it will stick for tomorrow and hopefully it won't get too cool in the morning and we can hold on to it.
"We missed the .50s last year in Virginia, we went 6.600 (there). We just missed the .50 mark, so it's good to get it here and be the only one in the field that's got it right now.
"It felt really good, and actually when they came across (the radio) and told me the time, I thought they said .69. I said, What did you say?, and he said .59. That kind of fell in after that. But it felt like a really good run. It was perfect from A to B. I haven't seen it yet on the computer, but it felt like a really awesome run.
"(Engine builder) Roy Johnson, Allen's dad, has been working real hard at the shop and to get that for him feels real good and I'm proud to do it."
