Stevens hopes a consistent car will help him win again in Seattle

Seattle, prerace: Richie Stevens, driver of the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T, enters this weekend's Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals at Pacific Raceways with a very consistent race car. He has advanced to the Pro Stock quarterfinal round in each of the past four NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events (Joliet, Ill., Englishtown, N.J., St. Louis, and Denver), which has him looking for his second career win in Seattle.

His last Pro Stock win here was in 2000 (his third career victory at the time), and Stevens can see similarities between that event and this weekend's. "I wasn't necessarily the quickest car in that race (No. 5 qualifier), but we were the most consistent," recalls the 27-year old New Orleans native. "We got down the track when it was hot (in 2000), and if we can keep that same deal going, we can go some rounds this Sunday."

Temperatures are expected to climb to nearly 100 degrees for this weekend's event, and Stevens does not mind. "On these hot tracks, if you can make consistent runs and do your job on the starting line, then the win light will come on. We were one of the better cars in Denver (where temperatures peaked at 104 degrees), so it might work out for us better if it is hot here too," he said.

"David (Nickens, crew chief/engine builder) and Terry (Adams, co-crew chief) did a hell of a job in Denver getting the car ready for race day. We were fifth quickest in the final qualifying session there, and I think we'll be quick right off the trailer here.

"It's getting to the point where I believe I have a car that can win every weekend, and hopefully this will be the weekend," says Stevens. "Don (Schumacher, team owner) has won an event in every other class this year (Pro Stock Motorcycle, Funny Car, and Top Fuel), and it's time we get him a win in Pro Stock."