Richie Stevens Pleased With Weekend, Despite Early Setback
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/1/r_stevens06.jpg" alt="r_stevens06" align="right"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Richie Stevens received a lot of moral support from some of his fellow Pro Stock drivers Sunday prior to the first round of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn.
His opponent, Dave Connolly, is 10th in POWERade Series points, and an early exit would be beneficial to those with designs on finishing in the top 10 10th.
Stevens and the crew of Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish/Indicom Electric Pontiac GXP gave it their best shot in the opening round, but the tires kicked loose in second gear and Stevens shut it off. Connolly turned on the win light in 6.685 seconds at 206.04 mph while Stevens coasted across in 12.859 seconds at 66.48.
"It was disappointing," said crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia. "We have a pretty good car right now. We have a better handle on it. We had four good qualifying runs."
Stevens said it was "tough to be the first pair out on a green track and that might have bit us. But it wasn't a bad weekend. The car is working good and it's showing promise."
That's another good sign because the team moves to Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. - the home track of Koretsky and Guarnaccia - for the Toyo Tires nationals, Aug. 15-17.
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/1/r_stevens06.jpg" alt="r_stevens06" align="right"borders="0"/>
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Richie Stevens received a lot of moral support from some of his fellow Pro Stock drivers Sunday prior to the first round of the Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn.
His opponent, Dave Connolly, is 10th in POWERade Series points, and an early exit would be beneficial to those with designs on finishing in the top 10 10th.
Stevens and the crew of Kenny Koretsky's Nitro Fish/Indicom Electric Pontiac GXP gave it their best shot in the opening round, but the tires kicked loose in second gear and Stevens shut it off. Connolly turned on the win light in 6.685 seconds at 206.04 mph while Stevens coasted across in 12.859 seconds at 66.48.
"It was disappointing," said crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia. "We have a pretty good car right now. We have a better handle on it. We had four good qualifying runs."
Stevens said it was "tough to be the first pair out on a green track and that might have bit us. But it wasn't a bad weekend. The car is working good and it's showing promise."
That's another good sign because the team moves to Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. - the home track of Koretsky and Guarnaccia - for the Toyo Tires nationals, Aug. 15-17.
