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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Billy Torrence Defends at Brainerd
SON STEVE CHASES HISTORY IN OTHER CAPCO DRAGSTER
BRAINERD, Minn. – When the Mello Yello tour moves this week to Brainerd International Raceway for the 38th annual Lucas Oil Nationals, the focus briefly will shift from series champion Steve Torrence’s pursuit of drag racing history to dad Billy’s first title defense and his bid for a starting spot in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
It’ll be a two-pronged assault by a Capco Contractors Top Fuel team that has won 10 of 16 races this season and 22 of the last 39.
Billy Torrence, the founder and CEO of Capco Contractors, a Texas-based oil-and-gas pipeline construction and maintenance business, earned his first professional victory just one year ago when he won the Lucas Oil Nationals from the No. 1 qualifying position, becoming one of an elite group of drivers who have won NHRA national events in both the pro and sportsman categories.
Now, he is trying to defy the odds once more and make the Countdown despite racing in only 10 of 18 regular season events. To do so, he must make up ground this week and again at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend.
Currently 12th in points, the elder Torrence needs to move past both Scott Palmer, who currently is 11th, and Terry McMillen. The three of them are separated by only 66 points with only two races remaining before the points are adjusted.
Billy Torrence has won twice in eight appearances so far this season and was on the losing end of an historic final round shootout with his son at Topeka, Kan. He avenged that loss by beating Steve in the semifinals of Sonoma, Calif., and denying him what would have been his 10th straight final appearance.
That is one of the few milestones to have eluded the current point leader in what thus far has been a spectacular defense of the championship he won a year ago.
By reaching the finals two weeks ago at Seattle, he became just the second driver (after Hall of Famer John Force) to appear in as many as 11 final rounds in three consecutive seasons. He already had become the first driver, regardless of category, to win the regular season championship three straight years.
En route to last year’s title, which made him the first driver in history to win championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol Divisions, Torrence also became the first ever to sweep the six races comprising the Countdown.
Over the last 22 races, the 36-year-old cancer survivor has posted a remarkable 70-7 record, winning more than 90 percent of his two-car challenges. He has taken his car to the final round in 32 of the last 64 races.
Torrence’s run has been all the more remarkable because it is the product of a philosophy that defies conventional wisdom.
"We’re not some big powerhouse that’s building our own parts," he said of his family-owned operation which operates out of leased shop space in Brownsburg, Ind. "I mean we buy all our parts off the shelf.
“It’s all about the boys that put these things together and the guys that are making the calls to tune ‘em,” he said. “Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana and all these Capco boys, my hat’s off to them. I can’t give them enough credit. I know every time I go to the starting line that I’ve got a car that can win and that gives you a huge boost in confidence.”
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 16 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster1587
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 966
3. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 955
4. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 953
5. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 940
6. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 883
7. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 786
8T. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 753
8T. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster 753
10. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 676
11. Scott Palmer, Cassville, Mo., Cat Spot Organic Absorbent dragster 667
12. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 610
The Champ at Brainerd International Raceway:
Last year at the Lucas Oil Nationals: After qualifying second behind his dad, Billy, Steve beat Bill Litton and Tony Schumacher before Antron Brown ruined what could have been an all-Capco final round.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 9/0/0/0
Steve’s quickest time at Brainerd International Raceway: 3.699 seconds, Aug. 20, 2016
Steve’s fastest speed at Brainerd International Raceway: 330.15 mph, Aug. 28, 2017
Steve’s won-lost record at Brainerd International Raceway: 9-9
Steve’s best moment(s) at Brainerd International Raceway: One of only two tracks on which he has neither a final round appearance nor a No. 1 start to his credit, Steve has gone to the semifinals three times
but no further.
Track records: 3.640 seconds by Leah Pritchett, Aug. 18, 2017; 333.16 mph by Brittany Force,
Aug. 18, 2017.
Billy Torrence Defends at Brainerd
SON STEVE CHASES HISTORY IN OTHER CAPCO DRAGSTER
BRAINERD, Minn. – When the Mello Yello tour moves this week to Brainerd International Raceway for the 38th annual Lucas Oil Nationals, the focus briefly will shift from series champion Steve Torrence’s pursuit of drag racing history to dad Billy’s first title defense and his bid for a starting spot in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
It’ll be a two-pronged assault by a Capco Contractors Top Fuel team that has won 10 of 16 races this season and 22 of the last 39.
Billy Torrence, the founder and CEO of Capco Contractors, a Texas-based oil-and-gas pipeline construction and maintenance business, earned his first professional victory just one year ago when he won the Lucas Oil Nationals from the No. 1 qualifying position, becoming one of an elite group of drivers who have won NHRA national events in both the pro and sportsman categories.
Now, he is trying to defy the odds once more and make the Countdown despite racing in only 10 of 18 regular season events. To do so, he must make up ground this week and again at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend.
Currently 12th in points, the elder Torrence needs to move past both Scott Palmer, who currently is 11th, and Terry McMillen. The three of them are separated by only 66 points with only two races remaining before the points are adjusted.
Billy Torrence has won twice in eight appearances so far this season and was on the losing end of an historic final round shootout with his son at Topeka, Kan. He avenged that loss by beating Steve in the semifinals of Sonoma, Calif., and denying him what would have been his 10th straight final appearance.
That is one of the few milestones to have eluded the current point leader in what thus far has been a spectacular defense of the championship he won a year ago.
By reaching the finals two weeks ago at Seattle, he became just the second driver (after Hall of Famer John Force) to appear in as many as 11 final rounds in three consecutive seasons. He already had become the first driver, regardless of category, to win the regular season championship three straight years.
En route to last year’s title, which made him the first driver in history to win championships in both the Fuel and Alcohol Divisions, Torrence also became the first ever to sweep the six races comprising the Countdown.
Over the last 22 races, the 36-year-old cancer survivor has posted a remarkable 70-7 record, winning more than 90 percent of his two-car challenges. He has taken his car to the final round in 32 of the last 64 races.
Torrence’s run has been all the more remarkable because it is the product of a philosophy that defies conventional wisdom.
"We’re not some big powerhouse that’s building our own parts," he said of his family-owned operation which operates out of leased shop space in Brownsburg, Ind. "I mean we buy all our parts off the shelf.
“It’s all about the boys that put these things together and the guys that are making the calls to tune ‘em,” he said. “Richard Hogan, Bobby Lagana and all these Capco boys, my hat’s off to them. I can’t give them enough credit. I know every time I go to the starting line that I’ve got a car that can win and that gives you a huge boost in confidence.”
2019 NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 16 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster1587
2. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 966
3. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 955
4. Brittany Force, Yorba Linda, Calif., Advance Auto Parts dragster 953
5. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 940
6. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 883
7. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 786
8T. Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 753
8T. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Montana Brand dragster 753
10. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 676
11. Scott Palmer, Cassville, Mo., Cat Spot Organic Absorbent dragster 667
12. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 610
The Champ at Brainerd International Raceway:
Last year at the Lucas Oil Nationals: After qualifying second behind his dad, Billy, Steve beat Bill Litton and Tony Schumacher before Antron Brown ruined what could have been an all-Capco final round.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 9/0/0/0
Steve’s quickest time at Brainerd International Raceway: 3.699 seconds, Aug. 20, 2016
Steve’s fastest speed at Brainerd International Raceway: 330.15 mph, Aug. 28, 2017
Steve’s won-lost record at Brainerd International Raceway: 9-9
Steve’s best moment(s) at Brainerd International Raceway: One of only two tracks on which he has neither a final round appearance nor a No. 1 start to his credit, Steve has gone to the semifinals three times
but no further.
Track records: 3.640 seconds by Leah Pritchett, Aug. 18, 2017; 333.16 mph by Brittany Force,
Aug. 18, 2017.
