BEING LAST COULD BE A FIRST AT HOUSTON
Torrence Tries to Put His Stamp on Final NHRA Spring Nationals Event
HOUSTON, Texas – The significance of winning this week’s 35th annual NHRA Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park is not lost on Top Fuel point leader Steve Torrence, the just-turned-39-year-old Texan who this year is trying to become just the fourth driver in NHRA history to secure as many as five straight series championships.
Steve at Houston Raceway Park
Total appearances: 12
Final rounds: 4
Tour victories: 1 (2020)
No. 1 qualifier: 4
Won-Lost record: 21-11
Quickest time: 3.672, Oct. 24, 2020
Fastest speed: 330.07 mph, Oct. 24, 2020
Track records – 3.661 by Brittany Force, April 12, 2019; 332.18 mph by Brittany Force, April 12, 2019.
Shut out of the winners’ circle at the season’s first four events in a Capco Contractors dragster in which he has totally dominated the last five seasons, the Kilgore resident is hoping to end that mini-drought this week on one of the Texas tracks he calls home.Total appearances: 12
Final rounds: 4
Tour victories: 1 (2020)
No. 1 qualifier: 4
Won-Lost record: 21-11
Quickest time: 3.672, Oct. 24, 2020
Fastest speed: 330.07 mph, Oct. 24, 2020
Track records – 3.661 by Brittany Force, April 12, 2019; 332.18 mph by Brittany Force, April 12, 2019.
However, it’s not just the competitive nature of this year’s championship that has Torrence so sharply focused. It’s the history of the moment; knowing that when the last car hurtles down HRP on Sunday, it will bring an end to professional drag racing in Houston.
The plot of land on which the track was constructed, which at one time seemed so far removed from Houston’s urban sprawl, has become increasingly valuable and already has been sold to Belgian conglomerate Kaoen Natie for development.
Winner of 51 Top Fuel races on the Camping World pro tour, 43 of them since 2016, Torrence has seen far too many “last drag races” the past few seasons. This one, though, is personal. Racing for the final time at HRP is a source of added motivation for the only driver ever to have swept the races in the NHRA playoffs (2018).
“Winning last year was special because it gave our Capco team a win at every track,” he said, “but I’ve got (HRP) memories going all the way back to being a fan in the stands and then, after I started racing, matching up with Erica (four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Erica Enders) when we were both running Super Comp dragsters.
“We’ve always run well there,” he said, alluding to four No. 1 starts and three runner-up finishes preceding last year’s win. “Hopefully, we can make this last race a special one for Capco, Toyota, Red Line Oil, Mac Tools and all our fans. I hate to see it close, but I’m happy to have one more chance to make some noise.”
If he is to go back-to-back at the Spring Nationals, however, he’ll have to overcome some formidable competition.
“They’re definitely coming after us,” Torrence said of those trying to end his reign, “but that’s what makes it fun. It’s all about the competition. The longer you’re on top, the harder it is to stay there and that’s our challenge this year – to stay on top.”
One of those trying to deny him a fifth straight title is Tony Schumacher, the eight-time former champion who is back in a full-time ride for the first time since 2018.
Although he raced in only a handful of events the past three years, Schumacher did win an epic final round duel with Torrence at the 2020 Spring Nationals, one decided by just .002 of a second. Torrence got the starting line advantage by .016 of a second, but Schumacher’s 3.669 second track time (just a tick off the 3.661 track record) was too much to overcome.
Despite their well-documented rivalry, Schumacher is but one of a dozen legitimate challengers to have emerged this year.
Among the others are former series champions Brittany Force, Antron Brown and Shawn Langdon, aspiring champions Doug Kalitta, Mike Salinas, Clay Millican and Leah Pruett and emerging stars Justin Ashley, Josh Hart and Austin Prock.
Spring Nationals qualifying begins with a single nitro session at 7 p.m. Friday followed by sessions at 2 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Saturday. Sunday eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the Houston finale will include a pair of qualifying shows, the first at 6 p.m., Texas time, on Friday and the second at 9:30 a.m., Texas time, on Sunday, with race coverage slated from 6:30-9:30, Texas time, Sunday.
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.Looking Back:
Steve Torrence at the Spring Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Houston 6. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2011 Houston 15. Lost to Spencer Massey
2012 Houston 2. Beat T.J. Zizzo, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
2013 Houston 8. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2014 Houston 1. Beat Terry McMillen, Brittany Force; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Houston 11. Beat J.R. Todd; lost to Clay Millican
2016 Houston 1. Beat Rob Passey, Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown; lost to Doug Kalitta
2017 Houston 4. Beat Shawn Reed, Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican; lost to Leah Pruett
2018 Houston 9. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Leah Pritchett
2019 Houston 2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown
2020 Houston 1. Bye, beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown; lost to Tony Schumacher
2021 Houston 1. Beat Mitch King, Bye, Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta
Steve Torrence at the Spring Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Houston 6. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2011 Houston 15. Lost to Spencer Massey
2012 Houston 2. Beat T.J. Zizzo, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown
2013 Houston 8. Lost to Morgan Lucas
2014 Houston 1. Beat Terry McMillen, Brittany Force; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Houston 11. Beat J.R. Todd; lost to Clay Millican
2016 Houston 1. Beat Rob Passey, Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown; lost to Doug Kalitta
2017 Houston 4. Beat Shawn Reed, Troy Coughlin Jr., Clay Millican; lost to Leah Pruett
2018 Houston 9. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Leah Pritchett
2019 Houston 2. Beat Kebin Kinsley, Austin Prock; lost to Antron Brown
2020 Houston 1. Bye, beat Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown; lost to Tony Schumacher
2021 Houston 1. Beat Mitch King, Bye, Clay Millican and Doug Kalitta
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
Las Vegas1 7. Runner-up to Brittany Force (Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown)
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
Las Vegas1 7. Runner-up to Brittany Force (Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown)
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After four of 16 races leading into the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 304
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., FLAV-R-PAC/Monster Energy dragster 300
3. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 297
4. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 270
5. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 229
6. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 198
7. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, Maynard Family/SCAG/Okuma dragster 192
8. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 189
9. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools/Toyota dragster 168
10. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools/Lucas Oil dragster 164
(After four of 16 races leading into the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 304
2. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., FLAV-R-PAC/Monster Energy dragster 300
3. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 297
4. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 270
5. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 229
6. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 198
7. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, Maynard Family/SCAG/Okuma dragster 192
8. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 189
9. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools/Toyota dragster 168
10. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools/Lucas Oil dragster 164
Looking Ahead:
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
5-1 NHRA 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
5-15 NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, VA
6-5 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
6-19 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
6-26 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH
7-17 Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO
7-24 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA
7-31 FLAV-R-PAC Nationals Seattle, WA
8-14 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS
8-21 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN
9-5 Dodge U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN
Countdown to the Championship:
9-18 Pep Boy Nationals Reading, PA
9-25 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC
10-2 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-16 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-30 Dodge Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-13 Auto Club Finals Pomona, CA
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
5-1 NHRA 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, NC
5-15 NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, VA
6-5 NHRA New England Nationals Epping, NH
6-19 NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals Bristol, TN
6-26 Summit Racing Equipment Nationals Norwalk, OH
7-17 Dodge Mile-High Nationals Denver, CO
7-24 NHRA Sonoma Nationals Sonoma, CA
7-31 FLAV-R-PAC Nationals Seattle, WA
8-14 Menard’s Nationals Topeka, KS
8-21 Lucas Oil Nationals Brainerd, MN
9-5 Dodge U.S. Nationals Indianapolis, IN
Countdown to the Championship:
9-18 Pep Boy Nationals Reading, PA
9-25 NHRA Carolina Nationals Charlotte, NC
10-2 NHRA Midwest Nationals St. Louis, MO
10-16 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX
10-30 Dodge Nationals Las Vegas, NV
11-13 Auto Club 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.
