FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Torrence Aims to Keep Streak Alive
MELLO YELLO CHAMP HAS WON LAST THREE FOUR-WIDE RACES
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – When they go four wide this week (April 5-7) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, don’t bet against Steve Torrence.
En route to claiming last year’s Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship, Torrence not only won nine traditional events, those in which drivers race as God intended, in pairs, tournament-style, until only one survivor remains, he also swept the two races contested in the four-wide format that has been championed by Speedway Motorsports president Bruton Smith.
In fact, when racing begins Friday in the 20th annual Denso Spark Plugs Nationals, Torrence will be seeking his fourth straight four-wide victory and his third straight trip to the LVMS winners’ circle at the wheel of a Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster in which he dominated the NHRA series the last two seasons.
The 36-year-old cancer survivor won his first four-wide trophy at Smith’s zMAX Dragway in Charlotte in 2017. He followed that with a victory last year in the inaugural Denso four-wide before repeating in the Carolina original.
Ironically, the talented Texan isn’t really a big fan of four-wide racing because, in sport that pays dividends for consistency, he believes it takes him out of his comfort zone and fragments the laser focus that has made him and his “Capco Boys” the most feared group on the pro tour.
“This is a sport of routine and reaction,” said the 27-time NHRA tour winner, “but the four-wide takes you away from all that. With the two extra lanes and the two additional opponents, you start over-thinking everything and you wind up making mental mistakes. It’s a lot tougher than it looks from the grandstands, I promise you that.”
It would be difficult to sell that “loss of focus” scenario to rivals, though.
After compiling an admittedly mediocre 2-5 record in his first five four-wide starts, Torrence has gone to the finals in four of his last five tries while advancing in 11 of the 13 four-wide heats in which he has been a participant.
As if that weren’t sufficiently intimidating, the man who swept all six races in last year’s Countdown to the Championship, is the LVMS track record holder for speed at 333.33 miles per hour and the event record holder for time at 3.720 seconds.
2019
NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 3 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 246
2. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 204
3. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 197
4. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 178
Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 178
6. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 166
7. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 161
8. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 157
9. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 150
10. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 138
* * * *
The Champ at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Last year at the Denso Spark Plugs 4Wide Nationals: after qualifying fifth and advancing to the final quad, Steve beat Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown to win the first four-wide race outside of Charlotte, N.C.
Last fall at the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas: after qualifying second, Steve dispatched Shawn Reed, Billy Torrence, Richie Crampton and Leah Pritchett to become just the second Top Fuel driver in history (after Larry Dixon) to sweep the two Las Vegas races.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 19/3/3/2 (8/1/1/2 in the spring race)
Steve’s quickest time at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 3.694 seconds, Oct. 27, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 333.33 mph, Oct. 27, 2018.
Steve’s won-lost record at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 23-16 (9-7 in the spring race)
Steve’s best moment(s) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: See “Last year” and “Last fall” above; also won the fall race in 2016.
Track records: 3.673 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. 27, 2017; 333.33 mph by Steve Torrence, Oct. 27, 2018.
* * * *
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dad Billy Returns for Denso Four-Wide
CAPCO NUMBER 2 MAY BE JUST AS GOOD AS NUMBER 1
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – After missing last month’s Amalie Gatornationals because of business responsibilities, Billy Torrence, father of the reigning NHRA World Champion, returns to the Mello Yello pro tour this week at the wheel of a second Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster.
While son Steve is the betting favorite in this week’s four-wide version of the Denso Spark Plugs Nationals, an event contested for the last 19 years at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would surprise no one if it was the elder Torrence who wound up hoisting the trophy on Sunday.
After all, the 60-year-old founder of Capco, a Texas-based oil and gas pipeline construction company, already has won this year (at Phoenix, Ariz), whilr his son has not. Moreover, even though he missed one of the season’s first three races, he’s still fourth in points and second (behind Steve) in the current NHRA power rankings.
Suffice it to say that the sport’s best part-time professional isn’t interested in just filling a spot in the field this week. Like his son, he’s in it to win it. In fact, he will be seeking his third win in his last nine races; his first in four-wide competition.
* * * *
So far, so good…. (Steve’s season summary)
Date Site Qualifying position and race detail Points
Feb. 10 Pomona, CA 1. Beat Steve Faria, bye, Mike Salinas; lost to Doug Kalitta. 2nd
Feb. 24 Phoenix, AZ 14. Lost to Antron Brown 4th
March 10 Gainesville, FL 3. Beat Dom Lagana; lost to Doug Kalitta 3rd
* * * *
Looking Ahead
April 14 32nd Mopar Express Lane Spring Nationals Houston, Texas
April 28 +10th NGK Spark Plugs 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, N.C.
May 5 39th Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta, Ga.
May 19 +12th NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, Va.
June 2 22nd NHRA Route 66 Nationals Chicago, Ill.
+Indicates events won by Steve Torrence in 2018
-www.torrenceracing.com-
Torrence Aims to Keep Streak Alive
MELLO YELLO CHAMP HAS WON LAST THREE FOUR-WIDE RACES
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – When they go four wide this week (April 5-7) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, don’t bet against Steve Torrence.
En route to claiming last year’s Mello Yello Top Fuel Championship, Torrence not only won nine traditional events, those in which drivers race as God intended, in pairs, tournament-style, until only one survivor remains, he also swept the two races contested in the four-wide format that has been championed by Speedway Motorsports president Bruton Smith.
In fact, when racing begins Friday in the 20th annual Denso Spark Plugs Nationals, Torrence will be seeking his fourth straight four-wide victory and his third straight trip to the LVMS winners’ circle at the wheel of a Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster in which he dominated the NHRA series the last two seasons.
The 36-year-old cancer survivor won his first four-wide trophy at Smith’s zMAX Dragway in Charlotte in 2017. He followed that with a victory last year in the inaugural Denso four-wide before repeating in the Carolina original.
Ironically, the talented Texan isn’t really a big fan of four-wide racing because, in sport that pays dividends for consistency, he believes it takes him out of his comfort zone and fragments the laser focus that has made him and his “Capco Boys” the most feared group on the pro tour.
“This is a sport of routine and reaction,” said the 27-time NHRA tour winner, “but the four-wide takes you away from all that. With the two extra lanes and the two additional opponents, you start over-thinking everything and you wind up making mental mistakes. It’s a lot tougher than it looks from the grandstands, I promise you that.”
It would be difficult to sell that “loss of focus” scenario to rivals, though.
After compiling an admittedly mediocre 2-5 record in his first five four-wide starts, Torrence has gone to the finals in four of his last five tries while advancing in 11 of the 13 four-wide heats in which he has been a participant.
As if that weren’t sufficiently intimidating, the man who swept all six races in last year’s Countdown to the Championship, is the LVMS track record holder for speed at 333.33 miles per hour and the event record holder for time at 3.720 seconds.
2019
NHRA MELLO YELLO POINTS
TOP FUEL
(After 3 of 18 races leading into the Countdown to the Mello Yello Championship)
1. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Mac Tools dragster 246
2. Leah Pritchett, Danville, Ind., Mopar Dodge dragster 204
3. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 197
4. Billy Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 178
Richie Crampton, Brownsburg, Ind., DHL/Kalitta Air dragster 178
6. Terry McMillen, Elkhart, Ind., Amalie Intimigator dragster 166
7. Mike Salinas, San Jose, Calif., Scrappers Racing dragster 161
8. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 157
9. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 150
10. Austin Prock, Indianapolis, Ind., Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 138
* * * *
The Champ at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Last year at the Denso Spark Plugs 4Wide Nationals: after qualifying fifth and advancing to the final quad, Steve beat Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown to win the first four-wide race outside of Charlotte, N.C.
Last fall at the Dodge NHRA Nationals at Las Vegas: after qualifying second, Steve dispatched Shawn Reed, Billy Torrence, Richie Crampton and Leah Pritchett to become just the second Top Fuel driver in history (after Larry Dixon) to sweep the two Las Vegas races.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 19/3/3/2 (8/1/1/2 in the spring race)
Steve’s quickest time at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 3.694 seconds, Oct. 27, 2017
Steve’s fastest speed at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 333.33 mph, Oct. 27, 2018.
Steve’s won-lost record at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: 23-16 (9-7 in the spring race)
Steve’s best moment(s) at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: See “Last year” and “Last fall” above; also won the fall race in 2016.
Track records: 3.673 seconds by Tony Schumacher, Oct. 27, 2017; 333.33 mph by Steve Torrence, Oct. 27, 2018.
* * * *
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dad Billy Returns for Denso Four-Wide
CAPCO NUMBER 2 MAY BE JUST AS GOOD AS NUMBER 1
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – After missing last month’s Amalie Gatornationals because of business responsibilities, Billy Torrence, father of the reigning NHRA World Champion, returns to the Mello Yello pro tour this week at the wheel of a second Capco Contractors Top Fuel dragster.
While son Steve is the betting favorite in this week’s four-wide version of the Denso Spark Plugs Nationals, an event contested for the last 19 years at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, it would surprise no one if it was the elder Torrence who wound up hoisting the trophy on Sunday.
After all, the 60-year-old founder of Capco, a Texas-based oil and gas pipeline construction company, already has won this year (at Phoenix, Ariz), whilr his son has not. Moreover, even though he missed one of the season’s first three races, he’s still fourth in points and second (behind Steve) in the current NHRA power rankings.
Suffice it to say that the sport’s best part-time professional isn’t interested in just filling a spot in the field this week. Like his son, he’s in it to win it. In fact, he will be seeking his third win in his last nine races; his first in four-wide competition.
* * * *
So far, so good…. (Steve’s season summary)
Date Site Qualifying position and race detail Points
Feb. 10 Pomona, CA 1. Beat Steve Faria, bye, Mike Salinas; lost to Doug Kalitta. 2nd
Feb. 24 Phoenix, AZ 14. Lost to Antron Brown 4th
March 10 Gainesville, FL 3. Beat Dom Lagana; lost to Doug Kalitta 3rd
* * * *
Looking Ahead
April 14 32nd Mopar Express Lane Spring Nationals Houston, Texas
April 28 +10th NGK Spark Plugs 4Wide Nationals Charlotte, N.C.
May 5 39th Arby’s NHRA Southern Nationals Atlanta, Ga.
May 19 +12th NHRA Virginia Nationals Richmond, Va.
June 2 22nd NHRA Route 66 Nationals Chicago, Ill.
+Indicates events won by Steve Torrence in 2018
-www.torrenceracing.com-
