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‘DRIVE FOR FIVE’ MOVES TO ST. LOUIS
Torrence Hoping to Extend Final Round Streak in NHRA Midwest Nationals
MADISON, Ill. (St. Louis) – After a pair of early losses to start the Countdown to the Championship, the success of Steve Torrence’s “drive for five” campaign likely will hinge upon the ability of his talented Capco Contractors team to find a winning “mix for six” at this week’s 26th NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Although he will start the third of six playoff races in fifth place, 105 points behind pacesetting Justin Ashley, the 39-year-old Torrence remains optimistic about his bid to become just the fourth driver in professional drag racing history to win as many as five straight NHRA series championships.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
A determined Steve Torrence, the four-time reigning NHRA Champion, knows it's crunch time this week when he sends his Capco Contractors Top Fuel Toyota after its fourth win in six years at World
Steve at World Wide Technology Raceway
Total appearances: 11
Final rounds:5
Tour victories: 3 (2017, 2018, 2021)
No. 1 qualifier: 2
Won-Lost record: 22-8
Quickest time: 3.669 seconds, Sept. 26, 2021
Fastest speed: 330.80 mph, Oct. 1, 2017
Track records – 3.631 seconds by Clay Millican, Sept. 29, 2017; 337.66 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. 26, 2021
The Capco Contractors Top Fuel Toyota driven by Steve Torrence has been to the final round each of the last five years at the NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
During that span, the Texan went to five straight final rounds and posted an 18-2 round record, hoisting the Top Fuel trophy in 2017 and 2018 and again last season when he beat Mike Salinas in the final.
The other thing he has going for him is the mental toughness born of previous Countdown battles, specifically the last one he lost – in 2017. After winning the regular season championship and leading the points throughout the playoffs, he was passed by Brittany Force on the last day of the season. It was a turning point in his career.
“To have that kind of failure and then to accept the fact that it was just you not doing your job when you needed to that made the difference, that’s the only way you can move forward,” he said.
“I took that whole next year and redirected my focus, not on who I’m racing, not what they’re doing, not what their car did, but only on what my car’s doing, what my guys are doing, and what I’m doing when I’m in the car. At the end of the day, that’s the only control I have,” explained the only driver to have won NHRA World Championships in both the Top Fuel and Top Alcohol divisions (he won the Top Alcohol title in 2005).
Bobby Lagana Jr., left, and Gary Pritchett, two of World Champion Steve Torrence's touted "Capco Boys," discuss clutch discs in preparation for this week's NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis where they've sent the Capco Contractors dragster to five consecutive Top Fuel final rounds.
Qualifying for the Midwest Nationals begins with a single nitro session at 7 p.m., Texas time, Friday followed by sessions at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Sunday eliminations begin at 10:30, Texas time.
All television coverage of the event will air on Sunday with qualifying highlights at 11:30 a.m., Texas time, and eliminations at 1 p.m., Texas time, on FS1.
Looking Back Steve Torrence at the Midwest Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 St. Louis 9. Lost to Doug Kalitta
2012 St. Louis 8. Beat Bob Vandergriff Jr.; lost to Antron Brown
2013 St. Louis 9. Lost to David Grubnic
2014 St. Louis 7. Beat Khalid alBalooshi, Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Antron Brown
2015 St. Louis 1. Beat Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Dave Connolly
2016 St. Louis 6. Lost to Pat Dakin
2017 St. Louis 7. Beat Shawn Langdon, Leah Pritchett, Antron Brown and Doug Kalitta
2018 St. Louis 1. Beat Bill Litton, Mike Salinas, Leah Pritchett and Clay Millican
2019 St. Louis 5. Beat Scott Palmer, Pat Dakin, Mike Salinas; lost to Billy Torrence
2020 St. Louis 6. Beat Kyle Wurtzel, Antron Brown, Billy Torrence; lost to Doug Kalitta
2021 St. Louis 3. Beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, Josh Hart and Mike Salinas
Steve Torrence’s 2022 results
Event Qualifying Position/Racing Result
Pomona1 6. Beat Doug Foley, Mike Salinas; lost to Justin Ashley
Phoenix 3. Beat Doug Foley, Brittany Force; lost to Mike Salinas
Gainesville 3. Beat Tony Schumacher; lost to Justin Ashley
Vegas 4Wide 7. Runner-Up to Brittany Force (Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown)
Houston 1. Beat Buddy Hull, Mike Salinas; lost to Justin Ashley
Charlotte 4Wide 3. Lost in 1st Quad (Clay Millican, Josh Hart, Shawn Langdon)
Richmond 3. Beat Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher, Austin Prock; lost to Brittany Force
Epping 1. Lost to Scott Farley
Bristol 2. Beat Lex Joon, Leah Pruett; lost to Justin Ashley
Norwalk 7. Beat Billy Torrence; lost to Leah Pruett
Denver 10. Lost to Austin Prock
Sonoma 4. Beat Tony Schumacher; lost to Brittany Force
Seattle 2. Beat Ron Smith; lost to Justin Ashley
Topeka 4. Beat Kyle Wurtzel, Tony Schumacher, Mike Salinas; lost to Antron Brown
Brainerd 4. Beat Mike Salinas, Antron Brown, Brittany Force and Tony Schumacher
Indianapolis 3. Beat Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown
Reading 5. Beat Shawn Langdon; lost to Austin Prock
Charlotte2 8. Beat Billy Torrence; lost to Justin Ashley
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After two races in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 2272
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2229
3. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 2220
4. Mike Salinas, San Martin, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster 2198
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2167
6. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Kalitta Air/Toyota dragster 2140
7. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 2139
8. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2129
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2125
10. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 2094
11. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 2084
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG/Okuma dragster 2064
Looking Ahead 2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
Countdown to the Championship
10-16 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-30 Dodge Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-13 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
2023 NHRA Tour
3-12 Amalie Gatornationals and Pep Boys Call Out Gainesville, FL
3-26 NHRA Arizona Nationals Phoenix, AZ
4-2 Lucas Oil Winternationals Pomona, CA
4-16 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Las Vegas, NV
4-30 NHRA 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
5-21 NHRA Route 66 Nationals Chicago, IL
6-4 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
6-11 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
6-25 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH
7-16 Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO
7-23 Flav-R-Pac Northwest Nationals Seattle, WA
7-30 DENSO Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA
8-13 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS
8-20 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN
9-4 Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals Indianapolis, IN
9-17 Pep Boys Nationals Reading, PA
9-24 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC
10-1 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-15 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-29 NHRA Nevada Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-12 NHRA World Finals Pomona, CA
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 St. Louis 9. Lost to Doug Kalitta
2012 St. Louis 8. Beat Bob Vandergriff Jr.; lost to Antron Brown
2013 St. Louis 9. Lost to David Grubnic
2014 St. Louis 7. Beat Khalid alBalooshi, Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Antron Brown
2015 St. Louis 1. Beat Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Dave Connolly
2016 St. Louis 6. Lost to Pat Dakin
2017 St. Louis 7. Beat Shawn Langdon, Leah Pritchett, Antron Brown and Doug Kalitta
2018 St. Louis 1. Beat Bill Litton, Mike Salinas, Leah Pritchett and Clay Millican
2019 St. Louis 5. Beat Scott Palmer, Pat Dakin, Mike Salinas; lost to Billy Torrence
2020 St. Louis 6. Beat Kyle Wurtzel, Antron Brown, Billy Torrence; lost to Doug Kalitta
2021 St. Louis 3. Beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown, Josh Hart and Mike Salinas
Steve Torrence’s 2022 results
Event Qualifying Position/Racing Result
Pomona1 6. Beat Doug Foley, Mike Salinas; lost to Justin Ashley
Phoenix 3. Beat Doug Foley, Brittany Force; lost to Mike Salinas
Gainesville 3. Beat Tony Schumacher; lost to Justin Ashley
Vegas 4Wide 7. Runner-Up to Brittany Force (Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown)
Houston 1. Beat Buddy Hull, Mike Salinas; lost to Justin Ashley
Charlotte 4Wide 3. Lost in 1st Quad (Clay Millican, Josh Hart, Shawn Langdon)
Richmond 3. Beat Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher, Austin Prock; lost to Brittany Force
Epping 1. Lost to Scott Farley
Bristol 2. Beat Lex Joon, Leah Pruett; lost to Justin Ashley
Norwalk 7. Beat Billy Torrence; lost to Leah Pruett
Denver 10. Lost to Austin Prock
Sonoma 4. Beat Tony Schumacher; lost to Brittany Force
Seattle 2. Beat Ron Smith; lost to Justin Ashley
Topeka 4. Beat Kyle Wurtzel, Tony Schumacher, Mike Salinas; lost to Antron Brown
Brainerd 4. Beat Mike Salinas, Antron Brown, Brittany Force and Tony Schumacher
Indianapolis 3. Beat Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown
Reading 5. Beat Shawn Langdon; lost to Austin Prock
Charlotte2 8. Beat Billy Torrence; lost to Justin Ashley
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After two races in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 2272
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2229
3. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 2220
4. Mike Salinas, San Martin, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster 2198
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2167
6. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Kalitta Air/Toyota dragster 2140
7. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 2139
8. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2129
9. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2125
10. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 2094
11. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 2084
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG/Okuma dragster 2064
Looking Ahead 2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
Countdown to the Championship
10-16 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-30 Dodge Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-13 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
2023 NHRA Tour
3-12 Amalie Gatornationals and Pep Boys Call Out Gainesville, FL
3-26 NHRA Arizona Nationals Phoenix, AZ
4-2 Lucas Oil Winternationals Pomona, CA
4-16 NHRA Four-Wide Nationals Las Vegas, NV
4-30 NHRA 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
5-21 NHRA Route 66 Nationals Chicago, IL
6-4 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
6-11 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
6-25 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH
7-16 Dodge Power Brokers Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO
7-23 Flav-R-Pac Northwest Nationals Seattle, WA
7-30 DENSO Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA
8-13 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS
8-20 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN
9-4 Dodge Power Brokers US Nationals Indianapolis, IN
9-17 Pep Boys Nationals Reading, PA
9-24 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC
10-1 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-15 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-29 NHRA Nevada Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-12 NHRA World Finals Pomona, CA
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships. Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 43 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, more than a quarter of the company’s 2021 North American sales were electrified.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
About Capco Contractors Inc.
Capco Contractors, Inc. is a family owned-and-operated construction company specializing in the oil and gas industries. A proud American company based in Texas with clients around the world, Capco was founded in 1995 by Billy Torrence and initially operated from a small office and one job-site trailer with a staff of only 12 employees. From those humble beginnings, Capco Contactors, Inc. has developed into a full-service pipeline company, capable of all aspects of pipeline work including site work, creation of compressor stations, mainline pipeline construction and pipeline integrity projects. It employs more than 200 people with main offices in Henderson, Texas.
