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BRAINERD, Minn. -- Richie Stevens Jr. was ready for a break following the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Western Swing (Denver, Seattle, Sonoma, Calf.), but now that he's had over a week at home in New Orleans, the 27-year-old driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock car is ready to get back into the thick of things at this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
"I'm ready to get back to it. I had a week off and a lot of time to think about where we are headed as a team," said Stevens.
"I feel really good about how I've been driving, and I just had a slip-up there in Sonoma (red-light start in first round). In this ultra-competitive class you're going to have those every once in awhile, but hopefully that will be my last of the season.
"David (Nickens, crew chief/engine builder) had a week off to work with the engines down in Texas. He needed some down time to look over stuff. Since he's taken over the program it's been one week after the next. He's made improvements in that time, and the time off will just be a bonus," offered Stevens.
"Brainerd (International Raceway) is going to be a good track for us. We've done well on the cool tracks and on the hot tracks, so I'm sure David will get a handle on the track really quickly, and we'll be competitive come race day.
"For these next two races (Brainerd and Memphis back-to-back) we want to stay in the top-10 points battle (currently 10th, 29 points behind ninth), and carry some momentum to Indy for the U.S. Nationals (Sept. 1-4)."
RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS:
* Tenth in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 15 events, only 29 points short of ninth
* Qualified No. 10 (6.735) at 2005 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, lost first round to Jason Line
* 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, Aug. 11 -- PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:45 and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Aug. 12 -- PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 13 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Aug. 12, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 13, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 13, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Stevens Rested and Ready for Brainerd
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Richie Stevens Jr. was ready for a break following the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Western Swing (Denver, Seattle, Sonoma, Calf.), but now that he's had over a week at home in New Orleans, the 27-year-old driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T Pro Stock car is ready to get back into the thick of things at this weekend's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.
"I'm ready to get back to it. I had a week off and a lot of time to think about where we are headed as a team," said Stevens.
"I feel really good about how I've been driving, and I just had a slip-up there in Sonoma (red-light start in first round). In this ultra-competitive class you're going to have those every once in awhile, but hopefully that will be my last of the season.
"David (Nickens, crew chief/engine builder) had a week off to work with the engines down in Texas. He needed some down time to look over stuff. Since he's taken over the program it's been one week after the next. He's made improvements in that time, and the time off will just be a bonus," offered Stevens.
"Brainerd (International Raceway) is going to be a good track for us. We've done well on the cool tracks and on the hot tracks, so I'm sure David will get a handle on the track really quickly, and we'll be competitive come race day.
"For these next two races (Brainerd and Memphis back-to-back) we want to stay in the top-10 points battle (currently 10th, 29 points behind ninth), and carry some momentum to Indy for the U.S. Nationals (Sept. 1-4)."
RICHIE STEVENS JR. QUICK FACTS:
* Tenth in 2006 NHRA Pro Stock standings after 15 events, only 29 points short of ninth
* Qualified No. 10 (6.735) at 2005 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, lost first round to Jason Line
* 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, Aug. 11 -- PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:45 and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Aug. 12 -- PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 13 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.
FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, Aug. 12, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 13, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 13, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
