Seattle: Richie Stevens Jr Saturday summary

STEVENS QUALIFIES IN TOP HALF FOR NINTH TIME THIS SEASON

KENT, Wash. (July 23, 2005) - Richie Stevens Jr. made four solid qualifying runs this weekend for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, ending up No. 6 in the field and in the top half for the ninth time this season.

Driving the Team Mopar/Valspar HEMI-powered Dodge Stratus in his first season with Don Schumacher Racing in the ultra-competitive Pro Stock class of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, the New Orleans native posted a 6.737/204.70, a 6.691/205.82, a 6.708/206.16 and a 6.704/205.91.

He will face Bob Panella Jr. in the first round of eliminations on Sunday.

"I think we did pretty good this weekend," said Stevens, who was Pro Stock winner here in 2000. "We made four pretty good runs, ran a 6.69, which is the quickest we've run in a long time, and we even had the third spot coming into today's qualifying."

"This morning's session was the better round, but we missed it just a little bit and slowed up a little. We got bumped down to sixth, but we're still in the top half."

"We have Panella first round. He ran well with a 6.710 this morning. He's right there behind us, but we've got the better car compared to his. We should get the win on paper, but paper and the race track are two different things."

"We have lane choice tomorrow, not that it really makes a difference. Both lanes seem to be pretty equal. Neither one is better than the other by a bunch."

"To get a win would be good. I know Bob Glidden (crew chief and 10-time Pro Stock champion) would love it, Mopar would love it and I would love it. I know (team owner) Don Schumacher wants to get his first win in Pro Stock."