‘ODDS’ FAVOR TORRENCE AT NORWALK
NORWALK, Ohio – Justin Ashley may be on a roll, but the “odds” are with Steve Torrence and his “CAPCO Boys” this week when Summit Motorsports Park plays host to the 16th Summit Racing Equipment Nationals, ninth of 15 races leading into the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Team CAPCO at the Summit Nationals
STEVE TORRENCE
Total appearances: 11
Final rounds: 4
Victories: 3 (2017, 2019, 2021)
No. 1 qualifier: 2 (2012, 2021)
Won-Lost record: 21-8
Noteworthy: Since withdrawing from the 2016 event after suffering a mild heart attack coming out of a particular strenuous workout back in Texas, Steve has posted a 15-2 won-lost record at Summit Motorsports Park.
Quickest time: 3.705 seconds, June 25, 2021
Fastest speed: 331.45 mph, June 25, 2017.
Track records – 3.666 seconds by Brittany Force, June 24, 2022; 333.58 mph by Mike Salinas, June 26, 2022.
Although he enters the race winless on the season and trailing Ashley by 64 points, Torrence has a history of success at the Bader family track in odd-numbered years like this one. Significantly, the 53-time Camping World tour winner celebrated victories in 2017, 2019 and 2021.STEVE TORRENCE
Total appearances: 11
Final rounds: 4
Victories: 3 (2017, 2019, 2021)
No. 1 qualifier: 2 (2012, 2021)
Won-Lost record: 21-8
Noteworthy: Since withdrawing from the 2016 event after suffering a mild heart attack coming out of a particular strenuous workout back in Texas, Steve has posted a 15-2 won-lost record at Summit Motorsports Park.
Quickest time: 3.705 seconds, June 25, 2021
Fastest speed: 331.45 mph, June 25, 2017.
Track records – 3.666 seconds by Brittany Force, June 24, 2022; 333.58 mph by Mike Salinas, June 26, 2022.
That success, coupled with the resurgence of his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota, the quickest car on the property two weeks ago in Bristol, Tenn., have reinvigorated the four-time champion, the only driver ever to have swept all six playoff races (2018).
“Everybody keeps asking ‘what’s wrong?,” Torrence said, “and there’s nothing wrong. We’re more than halfway through the regular season and we’re second in points behind a guy that’s won four races. That tells you everything you need to know about these bad-to-the-bone CAPCO boys.”
The fact is, had Torrence not so completely dominated the tour from 2017 through 2021, when he won 43 times in 97 starts during one incredible stretch, his current winless streak would not even be a blip on the radar. It’s been only 11 races, after all, since the 40-year-old Texan last hoisted one of the NHRA’s iconic “Wally” trophies (after last October’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis).
“It’s a lot more competitive,” Torrence said of the Top Fuel division. “There’s more cars that can win and you’ve got a lot of young drivers like Justin, Josh Hart and Austin Prock who can chop down the Christmas Tree. But, trust me, these CAPCO boys haven’t forgotten how to win, and I may not be a youngster any more, but I can still drive a little.”
Summit Nationals qualifying begins Friday with sessions at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Texas time. Two more qualifying rounds at 1 and 4 p.m., Texas time, Saturday will set the field for eliminations beginning at 10 a.m., Texas time, Sunday.
On TV (subject to change)
First day qualifying, 5:30-7:30 pm, ET, Friday on FS1
Final qualifying, 7-9 pm, ET, Saturday on FS1 (re-air, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, ET, Sunday on FS1)
Eliminations, 11 am, ET, Sunday on FOX broadcast network.
First day qualifying, 5:30-7:30 pm, ET, Friday on FS1
Final qualifying, 7-9 pm, ET, Saturday on FS1 (re-air, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, ET, Sunday on FS1)
Eliminations, 11 am, ET, Sunday on FOX broadcast network.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Right photo: Steve Torrence will drive his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel dragster in pursuit of his fourth straight odd year victory in the 16th Summit Nationals this week at Norwalk, Ohio.
MIddle photo: Four-time World Champ Steve Torrence’s odd year success streak is on the line this week when he drives his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota in the 16th Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio.
Right photo: Steve Torrence and his lucky charm, daughter Haven Charli, go for the gold this week in the 16th Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio.
Right photo: Steve Torrence will drive his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel dragster in pursuit of his fourth straight odd year victory in the 16th Summit Nationals this week at Norwalk, Ohio.
MIddle photo: Four-time World Champ Steve Torrence’s odd year success streak is on the line this week when he drives his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota in the 16th Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio.
Right photo: Steve Torrence and his lucky charm, daughter Haven Charli, go for the gold this week in the 16th Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk, Ohio.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America (more than 39,000 of them in the U.S.). Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).
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.
