Indy ORP: Rick Stivers preview

Stivers ready to end Summer Break with a Win INDIANAPOLIS (September 1, 2010) - Rick Stivers, driver of the Trane Air Conditioning 2006 Dodge Stratus Pro Mod, looks forward to summertime because it's great for his HVAC business, but once it ...

Stivers ready to end Summer Break with a Win

INDIANAPOLIS (September 1, 2010) - Rick Stivers, driver of the Trane Air Conditioning 2006 Dodge Stratus Pro Mod, looks forward to summertime because it's great for his HVAC business, but once it arrives, he can't wait for it to be over because the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series takes a nearly three-month break in their ten-race schedule, leaving the Lexington, Ky.-based racer longing to get back onto the quarter-mile. This weekend, Stivers will be back in action as the series fights the eighth battle of the season, this time at the legendary NHRA U.S. Nationals in Clermont, Ind.

Stivers currently sits No. 11 in the championship points race, just four points out of the top ten, and only 64 points out of the top five. With more than 100 points on the table in each of the final three races, he is aware that every lap counts.

"Summers are always a mixed bag for me," Stivers said. "It's great for business, but I really miss being in the car. Over the break I've worked on my practice tree to keep my reaction times quick, and I've been in constant contact with Brad [Anderson, crew chief and team owner] talking about the car and our strategies for the rest of the year.

"There's no one out there that can make more horsepower that "Bad" Brad, and the weather looks like it'll cooperate with us this weekend, so I'm really excited to see what we can put together," he said.

Last season, the U.S. Nationals was Stivers' return to action after a stunning crash sidelined him for four months. Despite his best efforts to make it down the track, weather claimed one of the qualifying rounds and kept him from making the field. He is anxious to get back on the ladder in this season's contest.

"Well, we've got to do better than we did last year," he said with a laugh. "Seriously, though, we really need to step it up and get a big jump in points. I'm really focused on making the best showing possible and moving ahead heading into Charlotte and Vegas.

"You've got to remember, it's hard to stop a Trane, especially at the end of summer!" Stivers added.