TORRENCE CHASING FIFTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Texan Brings Latest Title Bid to Home Track for NHRA Texas Fall Nationals
DALLAS, Texas – An historic fifth straight series title now clearly within reach, Steve Torrence returns to the Texas Motorplex this week in the hope of extending his streak of even-year victories in the Texas Fall Nationals, the climactic event in the track’s 10-day Stampede of Speed and the fourth of six races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship.
Torrence has reached the Top Fuel final in five of his last seven starts on the all-concrete track on which he won in both 2018 and 2020 and on which his dad, Billy, prevailed in 2019.
Steve at the Texas Motorplex
Total appearances: 14
Final rounds: 5
Tour victories: 2 (2018 and 2020)
No. 1 qualifier: 2
Won-Lost record: 21-12
Quickest time: 3.662 seconds, Oct. 17, 2020
Fastest speed: 329.18 mph, Oct. 18, 2019
Track records – 3.637 seconds by Brittany Force, Oct. 8, 2021; 335.32 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. 8, 2021
Although he hasn’t dominated this year as he did in 2018 when he became the only driver in history to win all six playoff races, the talented Texan has every reason to be optimistic about his title chances after driving a resurgent Capco Contractors dragster to victory two weeks ago at St. Louis.Total appearances: 14
Final rounds: 5
Tour victories: 2 (2018 and 2020)
No. 1 qualifier: 2
Won-Lost record: 21-12
Quickest time: 3.662 seconds, Oct. 17, 2020
Fastest speed: 329.18 mph, Oct. 18, 2019
Track records – 3.637 seconds by Brittany Force, Oct. 8, 2021; 335.32 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. 8, 2021
That win, the 53rd of his pro career but just his second this season, vaulted him from a season-worst fifth in points to second. As a result, he will roll to the starting line for the first of two Friday qualifying sessions trailing Justin Ashley by a scant 14 points in his bid to join John Force, Bob Glidden and Tony Schumacher as the only pro drivers with as many as five successive championships.
“This is our home track,” Torrence said of the Motorplex, “so we know we’re going to have a lot of fan support. We’re going to have a ton of Capco people over here, a lot of friends, a lot of family. It’s a great atmosphere, but the challenge is to stay focused on the job we have to do.
“We’ve done really well here, but so has Justin,” he continued, referencing the latter’s .005 of a second victory in last year’s final round showdown. “And no way this is just a two-horse race. Brittany (2017 champion Brittany Force) is just behind me and Mike (Salinas), Antron (Brown), Josh Hart and Doug (Kalitta) are right behind her.
“Plus, there are a lot of potential spoilers who can jump up and bite you in any round. It’ll be like going through a mine field.”
Nevertheless, the 39-year-old cancer survivor likes his chances now that his “Capco Boys” have worked through some of the mechanical issues that plagued them during this year’s transition to a new engine-clutch set-up.
“They are amazing,” Torrence said of a crew led by Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana Jr. “I can’t say enough about them. They do the work and I just try to go up there and not screw it up.”
Torrence’s love affair with the Motorplex began long before he first experienced the raw acceleration of an 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragster. He and his dad raced sportsman cars at the track and, in 2005, driving a Top Alcohol Dragster, he won a pair of events at the Motorplex, one a regional, the other the Fall Nationals, en route to a Lucas Oil World Championship. He remains the only driver to have won NHRA titles in both the Top Fuel and Top Alcohol divisions.
Qualifying for the Texas Fall Nationals begins Friday with nitro sessions at 3:30 and 8 p.m. and continues Saturday with sessions at 1 and 5 p.m.. Single elimination finals begin at 12 noon Sunday.
All FOX television coverage of the event will air on Sunday with qualifying highlights from 9-11 a.m., Texas time, and eliminations beginning at 9 p.m., Texas time, all of it on FS1.
Photos by Mark Rebilas
Steve Torrence, left, the four-time reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion, talks shop with close friend and rival Antron Brown, the three-time former champion.
Both are in contention for the 2022 Camping World Championship entering this week's 37th Texas Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
Virtually written out of the script for the 2022 NHRA Top Fuel Championship after a season of struggle, Texan Steve Torrence has battled his was back into the conversation and enters this week's Texas Fall Nationals at Dallas just 14 points off the lead in his bid for a fifth straight title at the wheel of his Capco Contractors dragster.
Steve Torrence drove his Capco Contractors dragster to victory two weeks ago in the NHRA Midwest Nationals at St. Louis to put himself back into strong contention for a fifth straight Top Fuel World Championship when the tour moves this week to Dallas for the Texas Fall Nationals.
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Looking Back
Steve Torrence at the Texas FallNationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2008 Dallas 7. Lost to Antron Brown
2009 Dallas 9. Lost to Brandon Bernstein
2010 Dallas 7. Beat David Grubnic; lost to Tony Schumacher
2011 Dallas 13. Lost to Brandon Bernstein
2012 Dallas 7. Lost to Spencer Massey
2013 Dallas 4. Lost to Tony Schumacher
2014 Dallas 5. Beat Khalid alBalooshi; lost to Shawn Langdon
2015 Dallas 5. Beat Larry Dixon, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican; lost to Richie Crampton
2016 Dallas 7. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pritchett, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown.
2017 Dallas 1. Beat Blake Alexander, Richie Crampton; lost to Brittany Force
2018 Dallas 2. Beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Tony Schumacher and Terry McMillen
2019 Dallas 4. Lost to Shawn Reed
2020 Dallas 1. Beat Cameron Ferre, bye, Shawn Langdon and Billy Torrence
2021 Dallas 2. Beat Buddy Hull, Doug Kalitta, Josh Hart; lost to Justin Ashley
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
Charlotte2 8. Beat Billy Torrence; lost to Justin Ashley
St. Louis 1. Beat Buddy Hull, Clay Millican, Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart
Steve Torrence at the Texas FallNationals
Year Qualifying Position/Racing Result
2008 Dallas 7. Lost to Antron Brown
2009 Dallas 9. Lost to Brandon Bernstein
2010 Dallas 7. Beat David Grubnic; lost to Tony Schumacher
2011 Dallas 13. Lost to Brandon Bernstein
2012 Dallas 7. Lost to Spencer Massey
2013 Dallas 4. Lost to Tony Schumacher
2014 Dallas 5. Beat Khalid alBalooshi; lost to Shawn Langdon
2015 Dallas 5. Beat Larry Dixon, Shawn Langdon, Clay Millican; lost to Richie Crampton
2016 Dallas 7. Beat Clay Millican, Leah Pritchett, Shawn Langdon; lost to Antron Brown.
2017 Dallas 1. Beat Blake Alexander, Richie Crampton; lost to Brittany Force
2018 Dallas 2. Beat Bill Litton, Blake Alexander, Tony Schumacher and Terry McMillen
2019 Dallas 4. Lost to Shawn Reed
2020 Dallas 1. Beat Cameron Ferre, bye, Shawn Langdon and Billy Torrence
2021 Dallas 2. Beat Buddy Hull, Doug Kalitta, Josh Hart; lost to Justin Ashley
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
Charlotte2 8. Beat Billy Torrence; lost to Justin Ashley
St. Louis 1. Beat Buddy Hull, Clay Millican, Doug Kalitta and Josh Hart
Looking Ahead
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
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
2022 NHRA Camping World Tour
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
NHRA CAMPING WORLD TOUR Championship Points
(After three of six races in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 2305
2. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2291
3. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 2275
4. Mike Salinas, San Martin, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster 2270
5. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2262
6. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 2241
7. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Kalitta Air/Toyota dragster 2217
8. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2179
9. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 2162
10. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2161
11. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 2126
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG/Okuma dragster 2118
(After three of six races in the Countdown to the Championship)
TOP FUEL
1. Justin Ashley, Farmingdale, N.Y., Phillips Connect/Vita C dragster 2305
2. Steve Torrence, Kilgore, Texas, Capco Contractors dragster 2291
3. Brittany Force, Aberdeen, N.C., Monster Energy/Flav-R-Pac dragster 2275
4. Mike Salinas, San Martin, Calif., Pep Boys/Scrappers Racing dragster 2270
5. Antron Brown, Pittsboro, Ind., Matco Tools dragster 2262
6. Josh Hart, Ocala, Fla., R+L Carriers/Technet dragster 2241
7. Doug Kalitta, Saline, Mich., Kalitta Air/Toyota dragster 2217
8. Clay Millican, Drummonds, Tenn., Parts Plus dragster 2179
9. Shawn Langdon, Danville, Ind., CMR Roofing/Toyota dragster 2162
10. Austin Prock, Pittsboro, Ind., Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster 2161
11. Leah Pruett, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Dodge Power Brokers dragster 2126
12. Tony Schumacher, Lakeway, Texas, SCAG/Okuma dragster 2118
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.
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.
