STEVENS WILL START FROM TOP HALF IN SEATTLE

Seattle, Saturday - Richie Stevens Jr., will start the Schuck's Auto Supply NHRA Nationals Pro Stock competition from the No. 8 position on Sunday, marking the seventh time in 14 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events that the Team Mopar/Valspar Dodge Stratus R/T driver has entered the 16- ar eliminations from the top half of the field.

His best qualifying effort was a Saturday morning pass of 6.722-seconds at205.41 mph. His other runs resulted in a 6.793/204.14, a 6.761/204.60, and a final 6.792/204.08.

Stevens wants a quick first-round win on Sunday to keep up his current streak of consistent finishes (quarterfinals in Joliet, Ill., Englishtown, N.J., St. Louis and Denver). ""We've had some pretty good runs lately, and I feel confident about how things are going for tomorrow," said the 27-year-old New Orleans native.

"I think we picked a good race to be in the top half, because I think lane choice will be a factor tomorrow. That right lane is definitely smoother than the left, so we'll try to take advantage of that," he offered.

"If we can go some rounds tomorrow, then we'll get back in the top 10 (in point standings) and we'll head to Sonoma (Calif. - next event next weekend)on a good note. We have really focused on having a good Western Swing and then going from there.

"We have a good chance to win this race tomorrow, and that is what we are shooting for," smiled the 2000-event winner at Pacific Raceways.

Stevens matches up against Jim Yates in the first round of Sunday's eliminations. He is 1-1 (win-loss) against Yates this season.