TORRENCE BACK TO HIS PERSONAL ‘OASIS’
Four-Time World Champ Aims to Build on Past Success at ZMax Dragway
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As defined by Mirriam-Webster, an oasis, in addition to being “a fertile or green area in an arid region” can be anything “that provides refuge, relief or pleasant contrast.”
For four-time reigning Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence and his Capco Contractors team, that oasis is ZMax Dragway, site this week of the 14th Betway Carolina Nationals, second race in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
Steve at zMAX Dragway
Total appearances: 22 (10 in the Carolina Nationals)
Final rounds: 7 (2 in the Carolina Nationals)
Tour victories: 6 (2 in the Carolina Nationals, 2018-19)
No. 1 qualifier: 3 (1 in the Carolina Nationals)
Won-Lost record: 33-15 (16-8 in the Carolina Nationals)
Quickest time: 3.683 seconds on May 14, 2021
Fastest speed: 331.53 mph on April 29, 2018
Track records – 3.662 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. 17, 2021; 332.67 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. 18, 2021
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Steve Torrence deploys the parachutes to slow his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster from 330 miles per hour last week at Reading, Pa. Torrence returns to action this weekend in the 14th Betway Carolina Nationals in which he will be trying to win for the seventh time in his last 10 starts at ZMax Dragway.
Poised this year to become just the fourth pro driver in NHRA history to win as many as five straight series championships, Torrence is thirsting for the kind of performance that could negate the 56-point deficit with which he will begin qualifying on Friday.Total appearances: 22 (10 in the Carolina Nationals)
Final rounds: 7 (2 in the Carolina Nationals)
Tour victories: 6 (2 in the Carolina Nationals, 2018-19)
No. 1 qualifier: 3 (1 in the Carolina Nationals)
Won-Lost record: 33-15 (16-8 in the Carolina Nationals)
Quickest time: 3.683 seconds on May 14, 2021
Fastest speed: 331.53 mph on April 29, 2018
Track records – 3.662 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. 17, 2021; 332.67 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. 18, 2021
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Steve Torrence deploys the parachutes to slow his Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster from 330 miles per hour last week at Reading, Pa. Torrence returns to action this weekend in the 14th Betway Carolina Nationals in which he will be trying to win for the seventh time in his last 10 starts at ZMax Dragway.
Relief certainly could come on the all-concrete surface on which he has won six times in his last nine appearances while compiling a 23-3 round record.
“The longer you’re on top, the harder it is to stay there,” Torrence said of his situation, “but I’m a very competitive person and so are these Capco Boys. We’re a little further down (in points) than we’d like to be but we’ve had a lot of success at Charlotte and we’re coming in with a car that’s showing a lot more consistency.”
Further cause for optimism is the competitive return of the second Top Fuel Toyota driven by Capco founder and CEO Billy Torrence, an eight-time pro tour winner who sat out last week’s Countdown opener at Reading, Pa.
Momma Kay Torrence, left, will have have two cars to manage at this week's Betway Carolina Nationals where husband Billy, right, will return to the cockpit of the second Capco Contractors dragster to support son Steve's bid for a fifth straight Top Fuel World Championship.
“It’s always better when my dad’s racing,” the younger Torrence said. “We’ve been racing together since I was just a kid. It’s something we’ve always done as a family. The only thing that’s changed is the size of the family. Now, in addition to my dad and Momma Kay, we’ve got an extended family of Capco Boys plus (my wife) Natalie and (daughter) Haven Charli.”
After winning 44 of 97 starts from 2017 through 2021, the younger Torrence has put up far less spectacular numbers this year while crew chiefs Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. have worked to implement a new set-up designed to mollify the performance advantage enjoyed by regular season champion Brittany Force.
“It was necessary,” the 39-year-old cancer survivor said of the change. “You can’t sit still in this sport. You can’t rest on past results. You have to get quicker; you have to get faster.”
Qualifying begins with a single nitro session at 6 p.m., Texas time, Friday followed by sessions at 1:15 and 5 p.m., Texas time, Saturday. Sunday eliminations begin at 11 a.m., Texas time.
FS1 television coverage will include qualifying highlights at 6 p.m., Texas time, on Friday, and 1 p.m., Texas time, Sunday followed immediately by eliminations beginning at 2 p.m., Texas time. Finals will re-air Sunday at 10 p.m., Texas time.
Four-time reigning Top Fuel World Champion Steve Torrence will be looking for another victory celebration with daughter Haven Charli at this week's Betway Carolina Nationals at Charlotte.
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.Looking Back
Steve Torrence at zMAX Dragway
Steve at the Betway Carolina Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Charlotte2 11. Beat T.J. Zizzo; lost to Brandon Bernstein
2011 Charlotte2 Did Not Compete
2012 Charlotte2 9. Lost to Bob Vandergriff Jr.
2013 Charlotte2 5. Lost to Pat Dakin
2014 Charlotte2 2. Beat Richie Crampton, Leah Pruett; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Charlotte2 3. Beat Richie Crampton; lost to Antron Brown
2016 Charlotte2 4. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Wayne Newby
2017 Charlotte2 2. Beat Terry Haddock; lost to Richie Crampton
2018 Charlotte2 2. Beat Chris Karamesines, Leah Pruett, Tony Schumacher
and Brittany Force
2019 Charlotte2 1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta
2020 Charlotte2 Event Not Contested
2021 Charlotte2 5. Beat Doug Kalitta, Billy Torrence; lost to Brittany Force
Steve at the Circle K 4Wide Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Charlotte1 7. Lost in first quad
2011 Charlotte1 7. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2012 Charlotte1 1. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2013 Charlotte1 6. Lost in first quad.
2014 Charlotte1 8. Lost in first quad.
2015 Charlotte1 12. Runner-Up to Antron Brown
2016 Charlotte1 1. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2017 Charlotte1 4. WINNER over Tony Schumacher
2018 Charlotte1 4. WINNER over Doug Kalitta
2019 Charlotte1 6. WINNER over Clay Millican
2020 Charlotte1 Event Not Contested
2021 Charlotte1 2. WINNER over Brittany Force
2022 Charlotte 1 3. Lost in first quad
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
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 2170
2. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 2161
3. Mike Salinas, San Martin, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster 2160
4. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2116
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2114
6. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2096
7. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 2083
8. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Kalitta Air/Toyota dragster 2063
Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 2063
10. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 2052
11. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2046
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG/Okuma dragster 2032
Looking Ahead
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
Countdown to the Championship
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
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
Steve Torrence at zMAX Dragway
Steve at the Betway Carolina Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Charlotte2 11. Beat T.J. Zizzo; lost to Brandon Bernstein
2011 Charlotte2 Did Not Compete
2012 Charlotte2 9. Lost to Bob Vandergriff Jr.
2013 Charlotte2 5. Lost to Pat Dakin
2014 Charlotte2 2. Beat Richie Crampton, Leah Pruett; lost to Khalid alBalooshi
2015 Charlotte2 3. Beat Richie Crampton; lost to Antron Brown
2016 Charlotte2 4. Beat Scott Palmer; lost to Wayne Newby
2017 Charlotte2 2. Beat Terry Haddock; lost to Richie Crampton
2018 Charlotte2 2. Beat Chris Karamesines, Leah Pruett, Tony Schumacher
and Brittany Force
2019 Charlotte2 1. Beat Lex Joon, Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Doug Kalitta
2020 Charlotte2 Event Not Contested
2021 Charlotte2 5. Beat Doug Kalitta, Billy Torrence; lost to Brittany Force
Steve at the Circle K 4Wide Nationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2010 Charlotte1 7. Lost in first quad
2011 Charlotte1 7. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2012 Charlotte1 1. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2013 Charlotte1 6. Lost in first quad.
2014 Charlotte1 8. Lost in first quad.
2015 Charlotte1 12. Runner-Up to Antron Brown
2016 Charlotte1 1. Won first quad; lost in 2nd
2017 Charlotte1 4. WINNER over Tony Schumacher
2018 Charlotte1 4. WINNER over Doug Kalitta
2019 Charlotte1 6. WINNER over Clay Millican
2020 Charlotte1 Event Not Contested
2021 Charlotte1 2. WINNER over Brittany Force
2022 Charlotte 1 3. Lost in first quad
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
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 2170
2. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 2161
3. Mike Salinas, San Martin, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster 2160
4. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2116
5. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2114
6. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2096
7. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 2083
8. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Kalitta Air/Toyota dragster 2063
Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 2063
10. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 2052
11. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2046
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG/Okuma dragster 2032
Looking Ahead
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
Countdown to the Championship
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
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
