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TORRENCE AGAIN ANGLING FOR A ‘HOME’ WIN
Point Leader Sends Capco Contractors Dragster After Spring Nationals Title
HOUSTON, Texas – Steve Torrence has won drag racing’s biggest event, the Chevrolet U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis. He’s won the lucrative and highly-restricted NHRA Top Fuel Shootout. He’s won on mile-high racetracks and on those at sea level and, after two consecutive wins, he definitely has mastered four-wide racing.
In fact, about the only things the talented Texan hasn’t done since he began racing full-time at the professional level just six years ago are: (1) win the $500,000 NHRA Mello Yello Championship, and (2) win a race in his home state.
He gets another chance to mark the latter item off his competitive bucket list this weekend when he sends his 10,000 horsepower Capco Contractors dragster after the Top Fuel title in the 31st annual NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway, a race in which he has been runner-up each of the last two seasons.
Winner of 11 of the last 30 events in drag racing’s premier series including two of four this year, Torrence once again is looking forward to playing a “home game.”
“We’ve been racin’ in California, Arizona and Florida,” said the just-turned-35-year-old point leader, “so it’s great to get back in Texas. Houston and Dallas are the only two home games for us, so we’d really like to finally win one. We’ve been to the finals a lot, but we’ve never hoisted the trophy – not yet, anyway.”
Although he enjoys the partisan support he receives at Royal Purple, a track within driving distance for family and friends including co-workers at Capco Contractors, Inc., Torrence admits that racing at home does have its drawbacks.
“We love it that we have so many people supporting us. I love having friends here including Tara Kyle and everyone from the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation who do such great work for veterans and first responders.
“The downside is that there are more distractions than there are at the other races. There are so many people you want to spend time with; you just have to maintain focus, manage your time and remember that the there’s still a race to run.”
In a car tuned by Richard Hogan and maintained by a crew headed by car chief Bobby Lagana Jr., Torrence has consecutive top three point finishes to his credit.
“We were third in 2016 and second in 2017,” he said, “so if we maintain the progression, this definitely should be our year.”
Unfortunately, his championship rivals aren’t very adept at following a script.
Nevertheless, racing against multiple-car teams fielded by Don Schumacher Racing and Kalitta Racing, Torrence is getting some help of his own this year in the form of a second Capco Contractors dragster driven on occasion by his father, Billy.
The elder Torrence will make his third Top Fuel appearance of the season this week in a car that no opponent is likely to take lightly after drove it into the semifinals at Phoenix before outqualifying his son two weeks ago at Las Vegas.
“I love racing with my dad – and against him,” admitted the younger Torrence, an 18-time tour winner. “Drag racing always has been a family deal for us. We’re both really competitive. That semifinal at Phoenix (in which he beat his dad by .003 of a second) was awesome. He was out there trying to kick my butt.
“If he gets another chance (to do that), I hope it’s in the final on Sunday.”
STEVE at Royal Purple Raceway
Last year: The No. 4 qualifier, Steve took the Capco Contractors dragster to the final round before losing to Leah Pritchett.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 8/2/0/2
Steve’s quickest time at Royal Purple Raceway: 3.724 seconds, April 29, 2016.
Steve’s fastest speed at Royal Purple Raceway: 329.42 mph, April 29, 2016
Steve’s won-lost record at Royal Purple Raceway: 11-8
Steve’s best moment(s) at Royal Purple Raceway: As the No. 1 qualifier in 2016, Steve beat Rob Passey, Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown before losing the final to Doug Kalitta.
Track records: 3.722 seconds by Clay Millican, April 21, 2017; 330.07 mph by Spencer Massey, April 24, 2015.
Point Leader Sends Capco Contractors Dragster After Spring Nationals Title
HOUSTON, Texas – Steve Torrence has won drag racing’s biggest event, the Chevrolet U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis. He’s won the lucrative and highly-restricted NHRA Top Fuel Shootout. He’s won on mile-high racetracks and on those at sea level and, after two consecutive wins, he definitely has mastered four-wide racing.
In fact, about the only things the talented Texan hasn’t done since he began racing full-time at the professional level just six years ago are: (1) win the $500,000 NHRA Mello Yello Championship, and (2) win a race in his home state.
He gets another chance to mark the latter item off his competitive bucket list this weekend when he sends his 10,000 horsepower Capco Contractors dragster after the Top Fuel title in the 31st annual NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway, a race in which he has been runner-up each of the last two seasons.
Winner of 11 of the last 30 events in drag racing’s premier series including two of four this year, Torrence once again is looking forward to playing a “home game.”
“We’ve been racin’ in California, Arizona and Florida,” said the just-turned-35-year-old point leader, “so it’s great to get back in Texas. Houston and Dallas are the only two home games for us, so we’d really like to finally win one. We’ve been to the finals a lot, but we’ve never hoisted the trophy – not yet, anyway.”
Although he enjoys the partisan support he receives at Royal Purple, a track within driving distance for family and friends including co-workers at Capco Contractors, Inc., Torrence admits that racing at home does have its drawbacks.
“We love it that we have so many people supporting us. I love having friends here including Tara Kyle and everyone from the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation who do such great work for veterans and first responders.
“The downside is that there are more distractions than there are at the other races. There are so many people you want to spend time with; you just have to maintain focus, manage your time and remember that the there’s still a race to run.”
In a car tuned by Richard Hogan and maintained by a crew headed by car chief Bobby Lagana Jr., Torrence has consecutive top three point finishes to his credit.
“We were third in 2016 and second in 2017,” he said, “so if we maintain the progression, this definitely should be our year.”
Unfortunately, his championship rivals aren’t very adept at following a script.
Nevertheless, racing against multiple-car teams fielded by Don Schumacher Racing and Kalitta Racing, Torrence is getting some help of his own this year in the form of a second Capco Contractors dragster driven on occasion by his father, Billy.
The elder Torrence will make his third Top Fuel appearance of the season this week in a car that no opponent is likely to take lightly after drove it into the semifinals at Phoenix before outqualifying his son two weeks ago at Las Vegas.
“I love racing with my dad – and against him,” admitted the younger Torrence, an 18-time tour winner. “Drag racing always has been a family deal for us. We’re both really competitive. That semifinal at Phoenix (in which he beat his dad by .003 of a second) was awesome. He was out there trying to kick my butt.
“If he gets another chance (to do that), I hope it’s in the final on Sunday.”
-www.torrenceracing.com-he
STEVE at Royal Purple Raceway
Last year: The No. 4 qualifier, Steve took the Capco Contractors dragster to the final round before losing to Leah Pritchett.
Starts/Final Rounds/Wins/No. 1 Qualifier: 8/2/0/2
Steve’s quickest time at Royal Purple Raceway: 3.724 seconds, April 29, 2016.
Steve’s fastest speed at Royal Purple Raceway: 329.42 mph, April 29, 2016
Steve’s won-lost record at Royal Purple Raceway: 11-8
Steve’s best moment(s) at Royal Purple Raceway: As the No. 1 qualifier in 2016, Steve beat Rob Passey, Tony Schumacher and Antron Brown before losing the final to Doug Kalitta.
Track records: 3.722 seconds by Clay Millican, April 21, 2017; 330.07 mph by Spencer Massey, April 24, 2015.
