Brainerd Richie Stevens Post-Race Notes

Kid disappointed with early exit

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 22) -- The youngest professional driver in the National Hot Rod Association continues to learn how tough the top level of drag racing can be at times. Twenty-year-old pilot Richie "The Kid" Stevens bowed out of contention for the title of the 18th Annual Colonel Truck Accessories Nationals in the first round of Sunday's action at Brainerd International Raceway. It was his sixth first round loss of the year and fifth Round 1 dismissal in the last six events.

"It's been a tough stretch," Stevens said. "Even at the last race when I went to the semi's it was basically because the guy I was running against had problems. We need to get back to where we were when we outran people."

Stevens, who pilots the Valspar Refinish Pro Stock Pontiac Firebird, got the jump on first round opponent Jeg Coughlin with a 0.431 start against Coughlin's 0.444-second launch. But the eventual race champion soon tracked down Stevens and went on to post a 7.014-second lap at 195.85 mph against Stevens' 7.084-second, 193.52-mph pass.

"He basically just out ran me," Stevens said. "I left on him but he was already passing me by the time I was pulling second gear. Then he was gone. He's got a lot of horsepower right now and we need some.

"I really wanted to do well with all the Valspar people here from Minneapolis. I'll have to make it up to then in Indy."

Stevens is in fifth place in the Winston points standings. He has qualified for 14 races this season and has one national event win and 16 elimination round wins.