Four-Time World Champ Seeks Seventh Straight Final Round at Midwest Nationals
MADISON, Ill. – In need of a bounce back performance following last week’s first round loss in the Betway Carolina Nationals, Steve Torrence and his CAPCO Contractors teammates couldn’t find themselves on a track on which they are more likely to achieve such a result than the one on which they begin qualifying Friday for the 27th NHRA Midwest Nationals
Team CAPCO at the NHRA Midwest Nationals
STEVE TORRENCE
Total appearances:12
Final rounds: 6
Victories: 4 (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
No. 1 qualifier: 3 (2015, 2018, 2022)
Won-Lost record: 26-8
Noteworthy: Has taken his Capco Contractors hybrid to the final round in each of his last six appearances at World Wide Technology Raceway, losing an all-CAPCO final to his dad Billy in 2019.
Quickest time: 3.655 seconds, Sept. 30, 2022.
Fastest speed: 330.80 mph, Oct. 1, 2017
Track records – 3.631 seconds by Clay Millican, Sept. 29, 2017; 338.43 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. 2, 2022.
World Wide Technology Raceway not only is the track on which the 40-year-old Torrence earned his competitive Top Fuel license in 2006, it is one on which he has raced in six straight final rounds and on which he has celebrated in the winners’ circle the last two years.STEVE TORRENCE
Total appearances:12
Final rounds: 6
Victories: 4 (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
No. 1 qualifier: 3 (2015, 2018, 2022)
Won-Lost record: 26-8
Noteworthy: Has taken his Capco Contractors hybrid to the final round in each of his last six appearances at World Wide Technology Raceway, losing an all-CAPCO final to his dad Billy in 2019.
Quickest time: 3.655 seconds, Sept. 30, 2022.
Fastest speed: 330.80 mph, Oct. 1, 2017
Track records – 3.631 seconds by Clay Millican, Sept. 29, 2017; 338.43 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. 2, 2022.
“We came up .001 of a second on the wrong side of the win light at Charlotte (against point leader Doug Kalitta),” lamented the four-time former Top Fuel World Champion, “but we’ve got a chance to get right back on the horse this week and get some redemption.
“Hoagie (crew chief Richard Hogan) and Bobby (Lagana Jr.) and the rest of these CAPCO boys have a good read on St. Louis,” said the 54-time Camping World tour winner, “but with the way Doug is running, A.B. (Antron Brown), Mike (Salinas), Justin (Ashley) and all the rest, it’s gonna be a dogfight.”
Although he has won only once in 17 races this season (the Flav-R-Pack Northwest Nationals at Seattle, Wash.), Torrence never has started an event worse than No. 2 in points, which is where he begins this week, down 63 markers to Kalitta.
“It’s definitely crunch time,” said the former Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion (2005) and the only driver to have won titles in both divisions. “This race gets us to the middle of this Countdown. You gotta be close (to the point lead) at the end of the day (Sunday) and then it all comes down to who executes the best at Dallas, Vegas and Pomona (races in which Torrence has six wins in his last 15 starts).”
Qualifying for the Midwest Nationals begins with one Friday night nitro session at 6 p.m., Texas time. The set-up phase continues Saturday with Texas time sessions at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. leading into single elimination finals on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m., Texas time.
Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the NHRA 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
2022 St. Louis 1. Beat Buddy Hull, Clay Millican, Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Four-time Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence with daughter Haven Charli. The two will travel this week to World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis where Steve will try to win the NHRA Midwest Nationals for the third straight year.
Steve Torrence hopes to light up the St. Louis night in a CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota in which he has won the NHRA Midwest Nationals four of the last six seasons.
Steve Torrence’s 2023 results
Event Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2023 Gainesville 2. Beat Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta; lost to Mike Salinas
2023 Phoenix 6. Beat Krista Baldwin, Austin Prock; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Pomona1 6. Beat Josh Hart; lost to Austin Prock
2023 Las Vegas1 2. Runner-Up to Antron Brown (Brittany Force, Josh Hart)
2023 Charlotte1 4. Lost in final quad to Austin Prock, Leah Pruett, Josh Hart.
2023 Chicago 8. Lost to Leah Pruett
2023 Epping 8. Beat Austin Prock, Antron Brown; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Bristol 3. Beat Shawn Langdon; lost to Doug Kalitta.
2023 Norwalk 2. Beat Doug Foley; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Denver 6. Beat Justin Ashley, Antron Brown; lost to Doug Kalitta
2023 Seattle 4. Beat Josh Hart, Brittany Force, Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta
2023 Sonoma 2. Beat Ron August, advanced on bye run; lost to Antron Brown
2023 Topeka 1. Beat Terry Totten; lost to Brittany Force
2023 Brainerd 3. Beat Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Antron Brown
2023 Indianapolis 1. Beat Will Smith, Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta; lost to Antron Brown
2023 Reading 4. Bear Mike Salinas, Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher; lost to Doug Kalitta.
2023 Charlotte2 12. Lost to Doug Kalitta
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR
Championship Points
(After two of six events in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., MAC Tools dragster 2284
2. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, CAPCO Contractors dragster 2221
3. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect dragster 2216
4. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Rennai America dragster 2208/
5. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2192
6. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Flav-R-Pac/ Monster Energy dragster 2178
7. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2165
8. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2130
9. Tony Schumacher, SCAG Power Equipment dragster 2089
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2082
11. Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air Careers dragster 2101
12. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 2066
Looking Ahead
2023 NHRA Camping World Tour Steve-O’s Highlights
Countdown to the Championship
10-15 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX 2018, 2020 winner
10-29 NHRA Nevada Nationals Las Vegas, NV 2016, 2018, 2021 winner
11-12 In-N-Out World Finals Pomona, CA 2018, 2021 winner
On TV (subject to change)
Qualifying highlights at 7 pm, ET, Friday and 2 pm, ET, Sunday, on FS1.
Final eliminations, also on FS1, from 3-6 pm, ET, Sunday.
Steve Torrence at the NHRA 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
2022 St. Louis 1. Beat Buddy Hull, Clay Millican, Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Four-time Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence with daughter Haven Charli. The two will travel this week to World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis where Steve will try to win the NHRA Midwest Nationals for the third straight year.
Steve Torrence hopes to light up the St. Louis night in a CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel Toyota in which he has won the NHRA Midwest Nationals four of the last six seasons.
Steve Torrence’s 2023 results
Event Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2023 Gainesville 2. Beat Scott Palmer, Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta; lost to Mike Salinas
2023 Phoenix 6. Beat Krista Baldwin, Austin Prock; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Pomona1 6. Beat Josh Hart; lost to Austin Prock
2023 Las Vegas1 2. Runner-Up to Antron Brown (Brittany Force, Josh Hart)
2023 Charlotte1 4. Lost in final quad to Austin Prock, Leah Pruett, Josh Hart.
2023 Chicago 8. Lost to Leah Pruett
2023 Epping 8. Beat Austin Prock, Antron Brown; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Bristol 3. Beat Shawn Langdon; lost to Doug Kalitta.
2023 Norwalk 2. Beat Doug Foley; lost to Justin Ashley
2023 Denver 6. Beat Justin Ashley, Antron Brown; lost to Doug Kalitta
2023 Seattle 4. Beat Josh Hart, Brittany Force, Shawn Langdon and Doug Kalitta
2023 Sonoma 2. Beat Ron August, advanced on bye run; lost to Antron Brown
2023 Topeka 1. Beat Terry Totten; lost to Brittany Force
2023 Brainerd 3. Beat Kyle Wurtzel; lost to Antron Brown
2023 Indianapolis 1. Beat Will Smith, Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta; lost to Antron Brown
2023 Reading 4. Bear Mike Salinas, Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher; lost to Doug Kalitta.
2023 Charlotte2 12. Lost to Doug Kalitta
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR
Championship Points
(After two of six events in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., MAC Tools dragster 2284
2. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, CAPCO Contractors dragster 2221
3. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect dragster 2216
4. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Rennai America dragster 2208/
5. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2192
6. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Flav-R-Pac/ Monster Energy dragster 2178
7. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 2165
8. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2130
9. Tony Schumacher, SCAG Power Equipment dragster 2089
10. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2082
11. Shawn Langdon, Kalitta Air Careers dragster 2101
12. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers dragster 2066
Looking Ahead
2023 NHRA Camping World Tour Steve-O’s Highlights
Countdown to the Championship
10-15 NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Dallas, TX 2018, 2020 winner
10-29 NHRA Nevada Nationals Las Vegas, NV 2016, 2018, 2021 winner
11-12 In-N-Out World Finals Pomona, CA 2018, 2021 winner
On TV (subject to change)
Qualifying highlights at 7 pm, ET, Friday and 2 pm, ET, Sunday, on FS1.
Final eliminations, also on FS1, from 3-6 pm, ET, Sunday.
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 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 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 (including 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.
