Richie Stevens Jr. confirmed to Competition Plus he will be competing full time in NHRA’s Pro Mod Series in 2018 and he will be driving a Camaro for Al-Anabi Racing and Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

“We are going to run all 12 NHRA Pro Mod races and about four or five of the PDRA races,” Stevens said. “I’m just grateful for KH to give me the opportunity to do this. The car will be the best of the best and everything he’s always done has been top notch. He’s going to field four Pro Mod cars this year, Mike Castellana, myself, Mike Janis and Brandon Snyder. I will be the only nitrous entry, the other three are all going to be blower cars.”

Stevens drove for Al-Anabi Racing for the first time last season competing at NHRA’s U.S. Nationals and a PDRA race at Galot Motorsports Park in Benson, N.C. Stevens advanced to the semifinals in both races and he be will driving the same car in 2018.

“We talked about things after I ran the Indy race and we talked about it a little bit over the winter time and I went and spent four weeks over in Qatar and did some testing over there in the beginning of January,” Stevens said. “We were just getting the car ready for the season. We just got the car back from Qatar last week. It is at Justin Elkes’ shop in Mooresville (N.C.) getting some things done to it before we go to Gainesville (Fla.). We’re going to head down to Bradenton (Fla.) Monday (March 12) and make a couple of test runs Tuesday and Wednesday and then head over to Gainesville.”

NHRA’s season-opening Pro Mod race is the Gatornationals March 15-18 in Gainesville. Stevens’ crew chief will be Shannon Jenkins.

Since 2013, Stevens has been competing on a limited NHRA Pro Stock schedule.

“The Pro Mod Series kind of fits me perfectly,” Stevens said. “The 24 races (in NHHRA Pro Stock) are a lot for me to handle with my business back at home (a salvage yard and used car lot in New Orleans, La.). The twelve races in Pro Mod is just perfect and to be back on the schedule full time and have a chance to get race wins and as well as the possibility of a championship makes it all that much more fun for me. I’m looking forward to playing with the guys and hopefully doing as well as we did at Indy last year if not a little better this season. I’m excited. Pro Mod seems to be a class that’s growing in the NHRA and I’m glad to be a part of it. Luckily, I’ve been given a chance to get behind the wheel of a first-class car. I have good people behind me. The car and equipment will be there it is just going to be in my hands to get it to the winner’s circle. Hopefully I can do so. I have all the tools there, I just have to put it all together.”